FIERY INFERNO: US Cargo Plane Crashes at Kentucky Airport, Killing Seven and Injuring 11 Others in Devastating Blaze
- A UPS cargo plane has crashed and exploded into a massive fireball at Louisville’s Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky, leaving a trail of destruction and chaos
- At least three people have died, with 11 others injured, some critically, as authorities warn the death toll could rise further
- The massive blaze triggered by the crash has engulfed surrounding buildings, with emergency responders battling to contain the inferno
In a devastating air disaster, a UPS cargo plane has crashed and burst into flames at Louisville’s Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky, killing at least three people and injuring 11 others. The tragedy unfolded on Tuesday evening, shortly after the plane took off from the airport bound for Honolulu, Hawaii.
According to Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, the plane crashed around 5:15 pm local time, sparking a massive fire that engulfed surrounding buildings. “We do not – at the moment – have the status of the crew,” he said, adding that the area hit in the crash consisted of two businesses, with many more impacted.
Video footage of the crash shows a large plume of smoke billowing into the sky, with witnesses describing the scene as “an incredible tragedy” that will never be forgotten. Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg tweeted that the fire from the crash was “still burning”, with multiple injuries reported and road closures in the area.
A shelter-in-place order was issued within the hour for all locations within five miles of the airport, and the airport closed the entire airfield after the crash. The US National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration will investigate the incident.
The crash comes as US airports are already crippled by delays and cancellations due to the ongoing government shutdown, with air traffic controllers under immense stress and fatigue. The chaos has led to transportation chaos across the country, with travellers facing wait times of up to five hours at some airports.
The FAA said nearly 13,000 air traffic controllers have been working without pay for weeks, ensuring the safety of more than 50,000 daily operations across the National Airspace System. But with the government shutdown entering its second month, lines at airports are expected to grow amid increased absenteeism among security and safety staff at some of the country’s busiest hubs.
In a statement, the FAA warned that the shutdown must end so that air traffic controllers receive the pay they’ve earned and travellers can avoid further disruptions and delays. “We will never compromise on safety,” the agency said.