Nov. 4 (UPI) — At least seven people died and more were severely injured Tuesday evening when a UPS aircraft crashed while taking off from a Louisville, Ky., airport.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear called the crash an “all-hands-on-deck” situation during a press conference, urging residents in the area to shelter in place after a fire broke out at the crash site.
The aircraft, which was headed toward Honolulu, Hawaii, crashed at about 5:15 p.m. EST as it was departing the airport, striking businesses in an industrial zone as it came down. While Beshear said there was no “specifically hazardous cargo” on board the plane, officials urged people to avoid the area as smoke billowed from fires and emergency responders scrambled to contain the blaze.
The aircraft crashed into a petroleum recycling company and an auto parts company, officials said. Louisville Fire Chief Brian O’Neill said the jet fuel on board the plane — which Beshear put at about 38,000 gallons — created a “very, very dangerous situation.” O’Neill said there were several explosions at the site, which is about a city block wide.
The number of dead and injured was expected to rise and the status of the crew was unknown, Beshear said, adding: “I think we’re all very, very worried about them.” He later posted on X that the death toll had risen to seven and that more information would be released later.
“Please, pray for the families affected, Louisville and all of Kentucky,” he wrote. “We are hurting right now after a heartbreaking day.”
UPS said in a statement posted to X that the shipping company was “terribly saddened” by the crash and that it was working with federal authorities as they begin investigating the incident.
The National Transportation Safety Board said in a statement on X that it will lead the official investigation into the crash, and a team was expected to arrive in Kentucky on Wednesday, when they will brief the press.
The aircraft crashed while attempting to climb and exploded upon impact with the ground, which created a fire that spread about a mile and produced thick plumes of black and gray smoke, WLKY-TV in Louisville reported.
The aircraft involved in the crash was a McDonnell Douglas MD-11.
The airport was closed and passengers who were scheduled to depart from or arrive at the airport on Tuesday or Wednesday were advised to check on their respective flight statuses.
Betsy Ruhe, a member of the Louisville Metro Council whose district includes the airport, said during the press conference that the crash is particularly devastating because UPS is such a large employer in the city.
“We all know somebody who works at UPS,” she said. “And they’re all texting their friends, their family, trying to make sure everyone is safe. Sadly, some of those texts are probably going to go unanswered.”
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