A UPS cargo plane crash in Kentucky kills 12 after left engine detaches during takeoff, creating half-mile debris field and destroying multiple buildings
LOUISVILLE: A cargo plane crash in Kentucky that killed 12 people occurred after one of its engines caught fire and detached during takeoff, investigators confirmed.
The McDonnell Douglas MD-11 operated by UPS crashed shortly after departing Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on Tuesday evening.
The aircraft exploded into flames as it plowed into businesses adjacent to the airport, killing multiple people on the ground along with its three-person crew.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg expressed deep sadness as the death toll rose to 12 with several individuals still unaccounted for.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear called the tragedy heartbreaking and unimaginable.
National Transportation Safety Board member Todd Inman said airport footage shows the left engine detaching from the wing during takeoff roll.
While the plane destroyed multiple buildings and left a fiery debris field nearly half a mile long, its left engine remained on the airfield.
Investigators have identified both the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder for analysis in Washington.
The crash reportedly marks the deadliest incident in UPS history, occurring near the company’s main Worldport hub that employs thousands.
UPS has halted package sorting operations at its Louisville facility following the accident.
Video from WLKY showed the left engine ablaze as the aircraft attempted to lift off.
The cargo flight went down three miles south of the airfield after taking off according to airport spokesman Jonathan Bevin.
The plane carried approximately 38,000 gallons of fuel for its long-haul flight to Hawaii.
Governor Beshear noted the aircraft narrowly missed a major Ford vehicle assembly plant employing 3,000 people.
Aerial footage showed firefighters battling flames along an extensive debris trail as smoke billowed from the crash site.
The aircraft hit a petroleum recycling facility pretty directly according to Beshear.
The NTSB confirmed the plane was built in 1991 and later modified for cargo operations.
Boeing, which merged with McDonnell Douglas in 1996, offered technical assistance to investigators.
UPS operates nearly 2,000 daily flights to more than 200 countries using a fleet of 516 aircraft.
The crash occurs amid the longest US government shutdown with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warning of potential mass chaos due to air traffic control staff shortages.
NTSB member Inman said the agency was unaware of any staff shortages at Louisville’s airport during the crash but has launched a full investigation including air traffic control staffing.
January’s fatal helicopter-airliner collision near Washington ended America’s 16-year streak without commercial aviation fatalities. – AFP
