Louisville, KY – A somber search continues in Louisville, Kentucky, following the tragic crash of a UPS cargo plane. The incident, which occurred Tuesday, has claimed the lives of at least 12 people, including a child, after the plane ignited and lost an engine shortly after takeoff.
The fiery crash consumed the aircraft and spread to nearby businesses at the UPS Worldport, a major aviation hub. Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board are on the scene, working to understand the cause of the fire and subsequent engine failure. Todd Inman of the NTSB stated that the investigation could take over a year to complete.
The plane, carrying three crew members, managed to clear the runway fence before crashing just outside Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport. Authorities have recovered the cockpit voice recorder and data recorder, and the missing engine has been located on the airfield.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear expressed his condolences and warned that the death toll may rise as the search continues. The crash also impacted nearby businesses, including Kentucky Petroleum Recycling and an auto salvage yard, where the child was tragically killed.
Local residents recounted the terrifying moments, with one bartender describing seeing the plane engulfed in flames as it descended.
The airport briefly suspended operations but has since reopened with at least one runway available. The status of the three UPS crew members remains unknown.
UPS has expressed deep sorrow over the incident, recognizing the importance of the Louisville facility, which employs over 20,000 people and handles a significant volume of packages daily.
Experts suggest that potential causes of the fire could include an engine malfunction, fuel line rupture, or a fuel leak. The incident has drawn comparisons to a similar 1979 crash involving a DC-10 aircraft with the same General Electric engines, where improper maintenance was found to be the cause.
The UPS plane had undergone maintenance in San Antonio recently, but the nature and impact of that maintenance on the crash remains unclear. As the investigation unfolds, the community mourns the loss of life and prays for the families affected by this tragedy. The incident also raises questions about safety regulations and maintenance protocols within the airline industry, which will likely be examined in the months to come.
