A UPS cargo jet erupted into flames moments after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on Tuesday evening, killing at least nine people and injuring 11 others, officials confirmed.
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The McDonnell Douglas MD-11, a 34-year-old aircraft bound for Honolulu, caught fire shortly after departing around 5:13 p.m. local time before crashing into an industrial area just beyond the runway. Several buildings ignited, sending thick black smoke into the sky. None of the three crew members survived, and most of the victims were on the ground, according to Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear.
Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board arrived on Wednesday to begin their probe into what caused the crash. One line of inquiry is focused on reports that an engine appeared to have detached from the aircraft mid-flight. “Anybody who has seen the images knows how violent this crash is,” Beshear said.
The airport reopened early Wednesday, but the affected runway is expected to remain closed for about 10 days. UPS, whose massive “Worldport” facility in Louisville serves as the company’s primary air hub, temporarily halted package-sorting operations following the crash. The company has not confirmed when full operations will resume.
UPS said the aircraft was fueled for an eight-and-a-half-hour flight to Hawaii and had undergone standard preflight checks. This marks the first fatal UPS crash since 2013, when an Airbus A300 went down in Birmingham, Alabama, killing both pilots.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg called the incident “a tragedy that has shaken our entire community,” adding that recovery crews continue to search through debris from the crash site and nearby damaged businesses.
