At least seven people were killed and eight others injured after a UPS cargo plane crashed shortly after taking off from Louisville International Airport in Kentucky on Tuesday, bursting into flames as it struck nearby businesses and sending thick black smoke billowing over the area. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the McDonnell Douglas MD-11, en route to Hawaii, went down around 5:15 p.m. local time (2215 GMT). Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear told reporters that the number of casualties could rise, as the current figures only account for those on the ground. UPS stated that three crew members were on board, but added that “we have not yet confirmed any injuries or casualties” among them. Governor Beshear said their status was unknown and described the situation as “very concerning.” The cause of the crash is under investigation by the FAA and the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Video shared by local broadcaster WLKY showed flames coming from the plane’s left engine during takeoff. Louisville serves as UPS’s main US air hub. The logistics giant operates nearly 2,000 flights daily to over 200 countries, with a fleet of 516 aircraft, 294 of which are owned by UPS while the rest are leased. Aerial footage from the scene revealed a trail of debris, as firefighters worked to extinguish flames. Governor Beshear said the plane had struck a petroleum recycling facility “almost directly.” Government shutdown The crash comes amid one of the longest government shutdowns in US history, with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warning of “mass chaos” earlier Tuesday due to a lack of air traffic control staff. “You’ll see mass cancellations, and you may see us close certain parts of the airspace, because we just cannot manage it because we don’t have the air traffic controllers,” Duffy told reporters. In a statement on X, Duffy called footage of the crash “heartbreaking,” adding: “Please join me in prayer for the Louisville community and flight crew impacted by this horrific crash.” In January, an American Eagle airliner hit a military Black Hawk outside Washington’s Ronald Reagan airport, killing 67 people. That crash, which ended the United States’ 16-year streak of no fatal commercial air crashes, has added to concerns about the US air traffic control system, which some regard as an understaffed operation beset by problems with old equipment.
Cargo Plane Crash Near US Airport Leaves Seven Dead
