At Least Seven Dead, Eleven Injured in Louisville Cargo Jet Crash
A cargo aircraft operated by UPS Airlines crashed shortly after take-off from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on Tuesday evening, killing at least seven people and injuring eleven others. The plane was bound for Honolulu, Hawaii, when it went down near an industrial zone close to the airport, erupting into thick black smoke and flames.
Crash Details
The wide-body McDonnell Douglas MD-11F freighter, operating as Flight 2976, took off around 5:13 p.m. local time before losing altitude moments later. Witnesses reported hearing loud explosions as the aircraft burst into flames after impact. The jet was carrying fuel for a long-haul flight to Hawaii, which intensified the fire and sent plumes of smoke visible for several miles.
Casualties and Rescue Efforts
Authorities confirmed that all three crew members onboard were killed, along with four people on the ground. Eleven others sustained injuries, several of them serious, and were rushed to nearby hospitals. Firefighters battled the blaze for over two hours, while police imposed a temporary shelter-in-place order within a five-mile radius of the crash site to prevent smoke exposure.
Investigation Underway
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have opened an investigation into the cause of the crash. Preliminary reports indicate that an engine fire may have occurred shortly after take-off, leading to a possible structural failure. Both agencies are examining flight data recorders recovered from the wreckage to determine the sequence of events that led to the tragedy.
