A cargo plane operated by UPS went down in flames just moments after takeoff from the company's global aviation hub at Louisville International Airport in Kentucky on Tuesday. Tragically, the incident claimed the lives of at least a dozen people, including a child.
According to Todd Inman, a member of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which is leading the investigation into the crash, an engine fell off the left wing just before the plane went down in flames. The cause of the fire remains unknown, but officials say it's possible that the engine partially came off while on the runway or there was a fuel leak that ignited and burned the engine.
The plane, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 made in 1991, was headed to Honolulu when it crashed about 5:15 pm local time. The aircraft took off from UPS Worldport, which is the company's largest facility, employing over 20,000 people in the region and handling up to 300 flights daily.
The impact of the crash was devastating, with a chain reaction that caused smaller explosions at nearby businesses, including a Kentucky Petroleum Recycling facility and an auto salvage yard. The inferno spread rapidly, consuming the plane and causing significant damage to surrounding buildings.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear confirmed that the child who died was accompanying a parent when they were at the auto salvage yard before the explosion. He praised firefighters for their bravery in responding to the disaster, describing it as "hotter than hell" with oil raining down on them.
Airport security video shows the left engine detaching from the wing during takeoff. Debris from the crash was scattered across a half-mile area, and officials have been searching for more victims, although Governor Beshear expressed skepticism about finding survivors.
Two people were in critical condition at University of Louisville Hospital with burns, while 18 others received treatment but were discharged due to non-life-threatening injuries.
A fundraising effort has been set up by the state of Kentucky to assist families of the deceased, and officials have urged anyone missing a loved one from the area to come forward.
The incident is being likened to another crash in 1979 when an engine fell off an American Airlines DC-10 jet as it took off from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, killing 273 people. The investigation into this UPS plane crash is ongoing, but officials say that several factors could have contributed to the fire, including a possible fuel leak or partial engine failure.
As the nation mourns the loss of life in Kentucky, many are left wondering what might have been done to prevent such a tragedy from unfolding.
According to Todd Inman, a member of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which is leading the investigation into the crash, an engine fell off the left wing just before the plane went down in flames. The cause of the fire remains unknown, but officials say it's possible that the engine partially came off while on the runway or there was a fuel leak that ignited and burned the engine.
The plane, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 made in 1991, was headed to Honolulu when it crashed about 5:15 pm local time. The aircraft took off from UPS Worldport, which is the company's largest facility, employing over 20,000 people in the region and handling up to 300 flights daily.
The impact of the crash was devastating, with a chain reaction that caused smaller explosions at nearby businesses, including a Kentucky Petroleum Recycling facility and an auto salvage yard. The inferno spread rapidly, consuming the plane and causing significant damage to surrounding buildings.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear confirmed that the child who died was accompanying a parent when they were at the auto salvage yard before the explosion. He praised firefighters for their bravery in responding to the disaster, describing it as "hotter than hell" with oil raining down on them.
Airport security video shows the left engine detaching from the wing during takeoff. Debris from the crash was scattered across a half-mile area, and officials have been searching for more victims, although Governor Beshear expressed skepticism about finding survivors.
Two people were in critical condition at University of Louisville Hospital with burns, while 18 others received treatment but were discharged due to non-life-threatening injuries.
A fundraising effort has been set up by the state of Kentucky to assist families of the deceased, and officials have urged anyone missing a loved one from the area to come forward.
The incident is being likened to another crash in 1979 when an engine fell off an American Airlines DC-10 jet as it took off from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, killing 273 people. The investigation into this UPS plane crash is ongoing, but officials say that several factors could have contributed to the fire, including a possible fuel leak or partial engine failure.
As the nation mourns the loss of life in Kentucky, many are left wondering what might have been done to prevent such a tragedy from unfolding.
oh man this is so sad, like over a dozen people lost their lives in one second 
can u even imagine if u r on that plane with ur family or friends 
the cause of the fire still unknown but it sounds super suspicious 
maybe they should check the engine again? 
. I mean, you see the plane taking off and then suddenly it's like something went terribly wrong 
. It's just heartbreaking, you know? The fact that an engine fell off during takeoff and the fire just spread so fast... poor people 
.
like seriously though, 12 lives lost and it's still anyone's guess what caused the fire. can't even blame the pilots, they didn't have time to fix that engine lol. Kentucky's oil rain sounds super fun tho, guess that's one way to get a free oil change 
anyway, hope the search and rescue efforts are going well, fingers crossed for those families affected 
and what can happen in just a split second 
... like the engine falling off, it's like our entire future could've been altered in an instant! 
it's also a reminder to appreciate the little things in life 
and cherish every moment with our loved ones 
because you never know when they might be gone 
like what was going on with that engine? it just fell off and started a fire?? 12 people lost their lives including a kid, my heart goes out to the families 
The investigation might take time, but I hope they find out what really happened so we can learn from it.
