UPS Plane Crash Near Louisville Airport Kills at Least Nine
A UPS cargo plane crashed shortly after takeoff near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky on Tuesday, leading to a deadly fire.
Accident Details
The Federal Aviation Administration reported that UPS Flight 2976, bound for Honolulu with three crew members on board, went down around 5:15 p.m.
Videos of the crash show a large fireball and a towering plume of smoke a few miles from the airport, with the wreckage igniting a massive blaze.
Casualties and Response
The death toll has reached at least nine, including confirmed fatalities on the ground, and is expected to rise.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said, "First responders are on-site and working hard to extinguish the fire and continue the investigation."
Earlier, Beshear stated in a press conference, "We do not, at the moment, have the status of the crew."
Crash Location and Hazard Information
- The plane crashed less than a minute after departing Runway 17R, according to Flightradar24 data.
- Louisville airport public safety officer Jonathan Biven confirmed the jet went down three miles south of the airfield.
- Governor Beshear noted there was "no specifically hazardous cargo" on the aircraft.
- The Louisville Fire Department indicated the plane carried about 38,000 gallons of fuel, presenting a serious danger.
Fire Chief Brian O'Neill described the incident as, "a very, very dangerous situation."
Emergency Operations
A large-scale emergency response is underway, involving local and neighboring fire and police departments working to control the fire and secure the area.
Summary: The UPS plane crash near Louisville has caused at least nine deaths and a major fire, with emergency teams actively managing a hazardous and evolving situation.