A UPS plane crashed near Muhammad Ali International airport in Louisville, Kentucky, on Tuesday evening, killing at least seven people and injuring at least 11, according to officials.
“The news out of Louisville is tough tonight as the death toll has now reached at least 7, with that number expected to rise,” Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear wrote on X/Twitter on Tuesday night. “First responders are onsite and working hard to extinguish the fire and continue the investigation.”
In a press conference earlier that day from Louisville, he called the crash “catastrophic.”
“Anybody who has seen the images and the video knows how violent this crash is,” Beshear said.
All flights departing Tuesday night from the airport were cancelled, according to Louisville police. Operations will resume on Wednesday, per the mayor’s office.
A UPS plane crashed Tuesday evening near the Louisville International Airport, causing at least seven deaths and sending a plume of black smoke and fire into the sky (AP)
Emergency responders from multiple agencies are responding to the crash, and federal officials are slated to fully investigate the cause of the incident.
The UPS MD-11 aircraft crashed around 5.15pm local time shortly after the plane departed the airport, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
UPS said Tuesday it cannot yet confirm the status of the three-person crew on the Honolulu-bound plane.
“At this time, we have not confirmed any injuries/casualties,” the company wrote in a statement.
Officials urged residents to stay away from the location of the crash and avoid touching any debris that they encounter (AP)
The Louisville airport is a major hub for UPS, employing thousands and running hundreds of flights per day.
Aerial video of the crash site shared by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation showed a fire and an industrial-looking building with damage to its roof.
The fire that resulted from the crash is largely contained, and first responders are now combing the area looking for survivors and remaining hot spots.
The plane was carrying about 38,000 pounds of fuel at the time of the crash, according to state officials.
The cargo jet did not have any specifically hazardous materials onboard.
The fire that resulted from the crash has caused a notable odor in the air, but particulate monitors are not turning up any “adverse readings,” Jody Meiman, executive director at Louisville Emergency Management, said Tuesday night at a press conference.
The jet reached an altitude of about 175 feet and then began to fall sharply, according to flight data tracker Flightradar24.
The crash damaged at least two businesses, including Kentucky Petroleum Recycling, which Beshear said was hit “directly,” and Grade A Auto Parts.
Employees of both businesses have been accounted for, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said Tuesday.
A nearby Ford plant was not impacted, Beshear said, calling the news a “blessing,” given the number of employees inside at the time.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash.
The crash site is the size of a city block, according to officials (AP)
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators are expected to arrive in full force on Wednesday, with a 28-person contingent.
Those searching for missing loved ones are urged to avoid looking at area hospitals. Instead, a family reunification center has been established at the Louisville Metro Police Department Training Academy on 2911 Taylor Blvd.
Louisville Fire Department Chief Brian O’Neill said the crash site fire was the size of a city block.
The public is urged to stay away from the crash zone, and a shelter-in-place order remains in effect for those within a mile of the wreck.
Members of the public should report any debris they find from the crash to officials and avoid touching it, first responders said.
Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy called the crash “heartbreaking” in a post on social media.
“Please join me in prayer for the Louisville community and flight crew impacted by this horrific crash,” he wrote on X.
The U.S. transit system is under strain from the ongoing government shutdown, and has suffered delays and staffing shortages at airports (AFP via Getty)
The crash comes at a time of intense strain on the U.S. air transit system during the ongoing government shutdown.
Air traffic controllers have been forced to work without pay, and staffing shortages have caused delays at airports around the country.
