On Tuesday, a UPS plane tragically crashed shortly after takeoff near the Louisville International Airport, resulting in the deaths of at least nine individuals and leaving several others injured. The incident, which has garnered significant media attention, unfolded as first responders discovered nine victims at the crash site, as confirmed by Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg on social media. Initially, officials had reported a lower death toll of seven, but Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear later confirmed the increase and mentioned the possibility of more fatalities.
The crash occurred around 5:15 p.m. local time when UPS Flight 2976 departed from Louisville, bound for Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, Hawaii. The plane went down approximately three miles south of the airport, as reported by Jonathan Biven, a public safety officer. Preliminary flight data from FlightRadar24 indicated that the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 aircraft briefly reached an altitude of 175 feet before the incident.
Fire Chief Brian O'Neill of Louisville stated that the plane was carrying around 38,000 gallons of fuel, amounting to roughly 233,000 pounds. This substantial fuel load likely contributed to the intense fire that was visible from news helicopters covering the scene. Furthermore, the aircraft was transporting approximately 20,000 packages at the time of the crash.
Videos captured during the incident showed the aircraft partially engulfed in flames as it sped down the runway before bursting into a fireball. Eyewitness accounts suggest that the left engine may have detached from the plane during the incident, which could have caused a loss of lift. More than 100 firefighters responded to the site, and as of Tuesday night, they were still working to extinguish remaining hot spots. A total of over 200 first responders were present at the scene, showcasing the urgency and scale of the rescue operations.
In a statement on Wednesday, Governor Beshear noted that 16 families had reported loved ones missing, prompting search and rescue operations to continue overnight. He reassured the public that there was no hazardous cargo on board that could pose an environmental threat, although a shelter-in-place order remained in effect for residents living within a quarter-mile radius of the crash site.
As a precaution, all schools within the Jefferson County School District, the largest in Kentucky with nearly 100,000 students, were closed on Wednesday. Mayor Greenberg also advised residents to refrain from touching any debris they might find on their property and to report it through a dedicated website. In the wake of the crash, all flight operations at the Louisville airport were temporarily halted, but operations resumed on Wednesday morning, albeit with some taxiways remaining closed.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation into the cause of the crash, with investigators arriving at the scene shortly after the incident. Louisville International Airport serves as the UPS Worldport, a major international air hub where the company processes up to 400,000 packages per hour and employs about 20,000 workers. The facility typically sees over 300 daily UPS flights, indicating the scale of operations impacted by this tragic event.
In light of the crash, UPS announced that package sorting operations were paused on Tuesday night but resumed on Wednesday morning. However, the sorting for the expedited shipping service, Second Day Air, was canceled for the day, leading to potential delays in package deliveries. As UPS aims to modernize its fleet, the crashed MD-11 was one of several aging aircraft being phased out in favor of more fuel-efficient alternatives.
The entire community is in mourning, with local leaders emphasizing the deep connection many residents have to UPS and the impact this tragedy has on countless families. Councilwoman Betsy Ruhe noted, "This is a UPS town; we all know somebody who works at UPS." As the investigation unfolds, the community remains hopeful for answers and healing in the wake of this devastating incident.
