LOUISVILLE AIRPORT HORROR: Seven Dead, Multiple Critical Injuries as UPS Cargo Plane Crashes in Ball of Flames Shortly After Takeoff
- Seven people have been killed and 11 others injured in a devastating cargo plane crash at Louisville International Airport in Kentucky.
- The United Parcel Services (UPS) MD-11 plane, carrying 280,000 pounds of fuel, crashed just 1.6 kilometres from the end of the runway, sparking a massive fire that spread to a nearby recycling centre.
- Authorities have issued a shelter-in-place order for all locations within eight kilometres of the airport, as more than 100 firefighters battle to contain the blaze and search for survivors.
Panic and chaos erupted at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on Wednesday evening as a UPS cargo plane crashed in a horrific ball of flames, killing seven people and leaving multiple others fighting for their lives.
The fully-fueled McDonnell Douglas MD-11F plane, which was headed to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, crashed just after 5pm local time, sending debris flying through the air and sparking a massive fire that spread to a nearby recycling centre.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg confirmed the devastating news, saying, “We are still actively searching the scene, but unfortunately, we have seven fatalities and 11 people injured.”
Justin Dunn, a witness who saw debris falling from the sky, described the terrifying moment: “My son was like, ‘Hey, look in the sky,’ and it was coming down out of the sky and he picked it up. There’s definitely debris all through here, probably within 10 miles.”
Another resident, Amanda Rhye, said she saw a “massive black cloud” of smoke billowing from the crash site, adding, “My jaw dropped when I heard minutes later that it was a plane crash. Everyone else around me realised it too, a couple of dozen people all stopped what they were doing and stared as the cloud quickly grew and expanded miles in every direction.”
The cause of the crash is still unknown, but authorities have launched an investigation, with the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration working to determine the cause of the tragedy.
Louisville Metro Police Department and other agencies are responding to the crash, with a shelter-in-place order issued for all locations within eight kilometres of the airport.
UPS said in a statement that it was aware of the incident and was working with authorities to investigate the cause of the crash.
The crash has sent shockwaves through the community, with many taking to social media to express their condolences and support for the families of the victims.