A UPS cargo plane erupted in a catastrophic fireball Tuesday evening, moments after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky. The devastating crash, occurring at the company’s primary global aviation hub, claimed the lives of at least three people and injured eleven more, a number officials fear will tragically rise.
The McDonnell Douglas MD-11, a plane first put into service in 1991, was bound for Honolulu when it experienced difficulties. Witnesses described seeing flames erupting from the left wing, followed by a plume of smoke as the aircraft briefly lifted off the ground before plummeting back down in a violent explosion.
The impact was immense. Video footage revealed a shredded roof of a nearby building, a stark testament to the sheer force of the crash. Governor Andy Beshear described the scene as “violent,” emphasizing the scale of the devastation.
Louisville is a city deeply connected to UPS, with thousands employed at the Worldport facility – a massive operation handling over 400,000 packages per hour and managing 300 daily flights. The crash immediately sparked widespread anxiety among employees and their families, with many desperately seeking reassurance.
Local council member Betsy Ruhe poignantly noted the pervasive worry, stating that many were receiving texts that may sadly go unanswered. The community is grappling with the potential loss of loved ones and colleagues.
The crash’s impact extended beyond the immediate vicinity of the airport. Kentucky Petroleum Recycling sustained a direct hit, and a neighboring auto parts business was also affected. Witnesses described the scene as resembling a “war zone,” with massive flames and billowing black smoke filling the sky.
Leirim Rodriguez, who captured dramatic video of the explosions, recounted witnessing “massive balls of flames” erupting in succession. Tom Brooks Jr., a nearby business owner, felt the shockwave, stating the crash “just rocked the whole place.”
Even miles away, the impact was felt. Destyn Mitchell, working at a restaurant approximately fifteen minutes from the airport, reported a loud boom that sent patrons fleeing in fear. The mood was “very shaken up,” as people rushed to return home.
Authorities swiftly issued a shelter-in-place order for areas north of the airport, extending to the Ohio River, a critical measure given the airport’s proximity to downtown Louisville and surrounding residential areas. The investigation into the cause of the crash has been turned over to the National Transportation Safety Board.
The airport remained closed, with operations not expected to resume until Wednesday morning, as officials worked to secure the scene and assess the full extent of the damage. The focus now shifts to understanding what caused this devastating tragedy and providing support to the affected families and community.
In a separate incident, eleven lives were lost in Kenya when a plane crashed en route to the Maasai Mara National Reserve. Additionally, the wreckage of a cargo plane that crashed in Hong Kong waters has been recovered, marking another somber event in aviation this week.
