UPS Cargo Plane Crashes After Takeoff Near Louisville Airport

A UPS cargo plane crashed shortly after taking off from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky at about 5:15 p.m. local time Tuesday, the Federal Aviation Administration said, according to CNBC. UPS Flight 2976, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11, was heading for Honolulu, officials said, per NBC News (later source).

The aircraft had three crew members on board, UPS said, CNBC reported. The plane carried about 38,000 gallons of fuel for the long trip to Hawaii, officials said, according to CNBC and, in a later account, CBS News (later source).

Local officials and federal investigators described the aftermath on Wednesday. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said at least 11 people were killed, including a young child, and expected the count to possibly reach 12, CNBC reported; NBC News (later source) said a 12th death was confirmed Wednesday evening and that the number could still rise. The toll later rose to at least 13, according to CBS News (later source, Nov. 6). Mr. Beshear declared a state of emergency, CNBC, NBC News (later source) and CBS News reported.

Todd Inman, a member of the National Transportation Safety Board, said the left engine detached from the wing after a plume of fire during takeoff, CNBC and NBC News (later sources) reported. NBC News said closed-circuit video shows the engine detaching, and that after clearing the fence at the end of Runway 17R the plane “made impact with structures and the terrain off of the airport property.” NBC News said investigators recovered the cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder; CNBC said the cockpit voice recorder had some heat damage. Mr. Inman said it was too early to determine a probable cause and that the NTSB team expected to remain at least a week, CNBC reported.

The plane hit two “lesser populated” businesses nearby, Mr. Beshear said, CNBC reported. A petroleum recycling business and an auto parts business are in the area, CNBC said, and Mr. Beshear urged residents and businesses near the site not to drink the water, CNBC said. A shelter-in-place order was issued near the crash site Tuesday. CNBC reported that the plane carried no hazardous materials, though the crash site could create environmental problems.

The airport closed after the crash and all departing flights that evening were canceled. One runway reopened Wednesday morning, CNBC reported. Louisville is home to UPS’s Worldport, which the company calls its largest package-handling facility in the world, CNBC reported. UPS said in a statement, “We are terribly saddened by the accident tonight in Louisville.” UofL Health said it received 15 patients, and by Wednesday morning 13 had been discharged, NBC News (later source) reported.