At Least 9 Killed, 11 Injured After UPS Plane Crash Near Louisville Airport
A UPS cargo plane crashed shortly after takeoff near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky on Tuesday.
Crash Details
The Federal Aviation Administration reported that UPS flight 2976, traveling to Honolulu with three crew members onboard, crashed around 5:15 p.m. Videos show a fireball and large smoke plume as the plane went down a few miles from the airport. The wreckage caused a massive fire.
Casualties and Response
- The death toll has reached at least nine, including confirmed fatalities on the ground, with numbers expected to rise.
- Eleven people were injured in the crash.
"First responders are on-site and working hard to extinguish the fire and continue the investigation," said Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear in a post on X Tuesday night.
Earlier, Beshear stated, "We do not, at the moment, have the status of the crew."
Location and Investigation
- Flightradar24 data indicates the plane crashed less than a minute after taking off from Runway 17R.
- Louisville airport public safety officer Jonathan Biven confirmed the crash site was three miles south of the airfield.
Hazards and Emergency Response
Governor Beshear noted there was "no specifically hazardous cargo" aboard, but the ongoing fire presents dangers.
- A massive emergency response is underway involving local and surrounding fire and police departments.
- Louisville Fire Department chief Brian O'Neill said the plane carried about 38,000 gallons of fuel, creating a "very, very dangerous situation."
Author's summary: The UPS cargo plane crash near Louisville resulted in numerous casualties and a perilous fire due to large fuel amounts, with emergency teams actively responding.