LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A UPS cargo plane crashed during takeoff at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on Tuesday, killing seven people and injuring 11, authorities said.
The crash occurred at 5:15 p.m. as the aircraft was departing for Honolulu from UPS Worldport. Video footage showed flames on the left wing before the plane lifted off and subsequently crashed, exploding in a massive fireball. Some debris from a nearby building was found at the end of the runway.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear indicated the death toll might rise and described the injuries as “very significant.” Four of the deceased were not aboard the plane.
UPS suspended operations at its largest package handling facility, which processes over 400,000 packages per hour and handles 300 daily flights. No timeline for resuming operations was provided.
Authorities noted that a local business, Kentucky Petroleum Recycling, was significantly impacted, with nearby structures also affected. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating; 28 personnel are on-site.
Passengers stranded overnight in the airport faced flight cancellations on Wednesday. Roads adjacent to the airport remained closed, and local schools canceled activities for the day.
Witnesses reported hearing what sounded like an explosion, describing the scene as resembling a “war zone.” Emergency personnel are assisting those affected.