A UPS aircraft has crashed upon departure from the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky, resulting in at least four fatalities and 11 injuries. The plane, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 freighter, was headed to Honolulu when it suddenly veered off course and crashed approximately three miles south of the airport.
According to officials, an engine issue during takeoff may have contributed to the crash. UPS has not confirmed any injuries among the crew, but authorities are concerned about their safety.
Shelter-in-place orders were initially issued within a 5-mile radius around the airport and later expanded to all areas north of the airport due to the severity of the incident. The shelter-in-place has since been reduced to a 1-mile radius of the airport.
The plane was carrying approximately 220,000 pounds of fuel, equivalent to about 38,000 gallons, which is a significant amount considering the aircraft's size and weight. Fortunately, there was no hazardous cargo on board, according to Governor Andy Beshear.
Authorities are currently investigating the crash with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
The airport has been closed until at least 7 am Wednesday, with temporary flight restrictions in place within a 5-mile radius over the airport. Relief aircraft operations are permitted, but only under specific conditions.
Residents in the area have been advised to stay away from the scene due to ongoing activity and debris. The incident is described as "incredible tragedy" by Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg, who has expressed gratitude for the response efforts.
UPS has offered technical assistance to the NTSB and said it stands ready to support its customer. The company's Boeing-owned McDonnell Douglas acquired in 1997 has also issued a statement expressing concern for the safety and well-being of those affected.
The incident is still unfolding, with authorities expecting the scene to remain active for several days. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
According to officials, an engine issue during takeoff may have contributed to the crash. UPS has not confirmed any injuries among the crew, but authorities are concerned about their safety.
Shelter-in-place orders were initially issued within a 5-mile radius around the airport and later expanded to all areas north of the airport due to the severity of the incident. The shelter-in-place has since been reduced to a 1-mile radius of the airport.
The plane was carrying approximately 220,000 pounds of fuel, equivalent to about 38,000 gallons, which is a significant amount considering the aircraft's size and weight. Fortunately, there was no hazardous cargo on board, according to Governor Andy Beshear.
Authorities are currently investigating the crash with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
The airport has been closed until at least 7 am Wednesday, with temporary flight restrictions in place within a 5-mile radius over the airport. Relief aircraft operations are permitted, but only under specific conditions.
Residents in the area have been advised to stay away from the scene due to ongoing activity and debris. The incident is described as "incredible tragedy" by Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg, who has expressed gratitude for the response efforts.
UPS has offered technical assistance to the NTSB and said it stands ready to support its customer. The company's Boeing-owned McDonnell Douglas acquired in 1997 has also issued a statement expressing concern for the safety and well-being of those affected.
The incident is still unfolding, with authorities expecting the scene to remain active for several days. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
... can't believe it happened right at takeoff 
. 220k gallons of fuel on a plane like that is crazy lol, and no hazardous cargo? That's like dodging a bullet 
. The airport closure is gonna cause some major disruption for people traveling through there... hope everyone affected gets the support they need 
. And poor UPS crew... fingers crossed they're safe 
- so devastating! 220k gallons of fuel on board, that's insane! Glad no hazardous cargo was on it tho 
. Hope the crew is okay 
. This whole thing is super freaky, can't imagine being in that situation 
And 11 people injured, that's crazy! Hope all the crew members are alright too, I'm still getting my head around them being okay 
. Shelter-in-place orders make sense though, can't have anyone coming near that scene... gotta be super cautious right now 
. And what's with the temporary flight restrictions?! Are they really gonna keep flying planes in the air until it's safe to do so? 
Guess only time will tell...
The UPS plane is huge, it's like an accident waiting to happen... I know it sounds dramatic, but come on, 220k pounds of fuel? That's some serious responsibility 
. And now they're saying it might've been a mechanical failure? Just wondering if anyone else thinks this is more than just a coincidence 
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hope everyone affected gets the help they need ASAP 
. But wait, what if it was actually a maintenance issue that caused the crash? That would be so frustrating 
. Anywayz, gotta stay safe over there in Louisville 
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. And what if one of the UPS crew members got hurt? 
That would be a nightmare. Thankfully, it seems like they're being super careful with the investigation and providing updates 
and everyone affected by this tragic event 
. Let's hope the NTSB finds out what happened and makes sure something like this never happens again 
. And can you believe there were no hazardous materials on board? It's a miracle nobody was hurt worse.
. Now it's all about layers of protection and risk assessments... I don't even get it sometimes 
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did you know that the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 is an older model with a reputation for being less fuel-efficient? 
anyway, 220k pounds of fuel on board is a LOT 
. Like, I get it, engine issues happen, but you'd think they'd figure that out by now. 220k gallons of fuel, though? Talk about a fuel-guzzling nightmare... 
The fact that UPS hasn't confirmed any injuries on the crew is super reassuring... not 
. And shelter-in-place orders everywhere within a 5-mile radius? Yeah, because nothing says "normal day" like being stuck in your house with no idea what's going on outside 
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my heart goes out to the families of those who lost their lives 
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