A tragic UPS cargo plane crash in Louisville has claimed at least 12 lives, with officials confirming 15 others injured and several still missing. Federal investigators say the aircraft’s left engine detached moments after takeoff, sparking a massive fireball and debris field stretching half a mile. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has now taken charge of the investigation, searching for clues to what caused the catastrophic failure.
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Engine Falls, Wing Ignites
According to NTSB agent Todd Inman, the cargo jet’s left wing caught fire shortly after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport. Moments later, the left engine detached, sending the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 plunging into a fiery crash just beyond airport grounds. “Airport security video shows the left engine detaching from the wing during the takeoff roll,” Inman said, confirming one of the key details that investigators are now examining closely.
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Federal Investigators Arrive
At least 28 NTSB agents have been deployed to the crash site to gather evidence and reconstruct the final moments of the doomed flight. Inman said the team discovered the detached engine on the airfield, along with the plane’s cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder, both of which appeared intact despite the flames. “We feel comfortable that once we get these to our lab in DC that we will be able to get a good readout,” Inman said.
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Search and Recovery Efforts
Louisville mayor Craig Greenberg confirmed that 12 victims have been found so far. “First responders have located nine total victims at the site of the UPS crash. We will continue to provide information as available,” he said, adding that several individuals remain unaccounted for. Kentucky governor Andy Beshear said the toll was expected to rise, calling the tragedy “heartbreaking,” and revealed that one of the victims was believed to be a young child.
Fires, Injuries, and Chaos
Hospitals in Louisville treated 15 crash-related patients, including two in critical condition, suffering severe burns. Others sustained blast and shrapnel injuries as well as smoke inhalation. Hundreds of firefighters were deployed to extinguish flames that spread through nearby areas. Local officials have urged residents not to touch debris found in their yards, instead asking them to report it to assist the investigation.
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A Routine Flight Turns Deadly
The aircraft, carrying three crew members, departed for Honolulu at around 5:15 p.m. on Tuesday. The UPS hub in Louisville handles around 300 flights daily, making it one of the busiest cargo centers in the country. Officials confirmed that there were no hazardous materials on board. Witnesses reported hearing multiple explosions and seeing the aircraft engulfed in flames before it slammed into the ground. “The plane itself is almost acting like a bomb because of the amount of fuel,” said aviation attorney Pablo Rojas.
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Technical Questions Loom
Aviation experts say investigators will closely examine why the engine detached and how it affected the rest of the aircraft. “It is designed to fly if you lose one engine, but we need to see the effect of losing that engine on the rest of the aircraft,” said safety expert Anthony Brickhouse. The NTSB said it expects to release a preliminary report within 30 days, though a full investigation could take up to two years.
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Flight Disruptions and Aftermath
Following the crash, all outbound flights from Louisville were suspended, and residents near the airport were ordered to shelter in place. The restriction has since been reduced to a quarter-mile radius. The affected runway will remain closed for at least 10 days, officials said. UPS temporarily halted package-sorting operations at the airport hub and canceled a shift scheduled for Wednesday morning.
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Officials Rule Out Shutdown Link
Inman dismissed speculation that the crash could be connected to the ongoing 36-day US government shutdown that has impacted aviation operations. He said the control tower at Louisville airport was fully staffed and functioning properly at the time of the incident. “There are a lot of different parts of this airplane in a lot of different places,” Inman said, describing the massive debris field as investigators continue to piece together the tragic sequence of events.