A UPS cargo plane bound for Hawaii crashed moments after takeoff from Louisville’s airport late Tuesday night, erupting into a massive blaze that killed at least seven people and injured nearly a dozen others, marking the deadliest crash in UPS history – ABC News report.
UPS Plane Crash" class="wp-image-233179"/>Dramatic footage captured the aircraft lifting off around midnight when flames suddenly appeared from one of its engines. Seconds later, the plane plummeted, triggering an explosion that sent fire and smoke soaring into the night sky. Witnesses described a “huge explosion” followed by a fast-spreading inferno.
Officials said the plane, carrying three crew members and over 220,000 pounds of fuel, went down just beyond the runway, igniting a fire that consumed nearly an entire city block. More than 100 firefighters worked through the night to contain the flames, as hazardous fuel runoff posed additional risks.
UPS, headquartered in Louisville, temporarily halted all air operations at the airport. The company said in a statement that its “heartfelt thoughts with everyone involved.” And pledged full cooperation with local and federal authorities.
Data from FlightRadar24 indicated the 34-year-old aircraft was on its third flight of the day and had recently been out of service for maintenance. Including the day before the crash. Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). And the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are now leading the probe, focusing on a possible left engine failure.
“This was a major fire, suggesting a catastrophic engine failure that may have thrown hot debris into the wing tanks or fuselage,” one aviation expert noted. Adding that such damage could have sparked the blaze during takeoff.
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Authorities issued a temporary shelter-in-place order for nearby residents due to toxic fumes and fuel leakage. By early morning, the order had been reduced to a quarter-mile radius, and one runway at Louisville’s airport had reopened.
Flags flew at half-staff across Kentucky as the community mourned those lost in the tragedy.
