A UPS cargo plane crashed this Tuesday shortly after taking off from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky, causing a large-scale fire that mobilized dozens of emergency units and forced authorities to issue a shelter-in-place order for nearby areas.
UPS Flight 2976, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 carrying fuel and headed to Honolulu, Hawaii, crashed around 5:15 p.m. (local time) shortly after taking off from the airport, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The agency confirmed that the plane, manufactured in 1991, will be subject to a joint investigation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which will lead the process.
“The McDonnell Douglas MD-11 was headed to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu. The FAA and NTSB will investigate the accident,” the FAA detailed in a statement posted on its official account on X.
According to CNN, there were three crew members on board, although the company has not yet confirmed if there are any casualties or injuries. In a statement, UPS indicated:
“At this moment, we have not confirmed any injuries or victims. Our priority is the safety of our people, and we are fully cooperating with the authorities.”
Images shared by WAVE, a CNN affiliate, showed a massive column of black smoke rising from the industrial area near the airport, as firefighters struggled to contain the flames.
The Louisville Metropolitan Police Department (LMPD) confirmed that there were reported injuries and urged the public to avoid the area of Fern Valley Road and Grade Lane, which will remain closed indefinitely.
Local authorities issued a shelter-in-place order for all areas north of the airport up to the Ohio River, due to the magnitude of the fire and the presence of hazardous materials.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear confirmed that first responders are already on the scene and urged the public to remain calm.
"We are aware of the accident reported near Louisville International Airport. Emergency teams are on site. Please pray for the pilots, the crew, and everyone affected," it was written on X.
Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, home to Worldport, is UPS's global logistics hub, where over 12,000 employees process about two million packages daily, according to company data.
So far, the authorities have not determined the causes of the incident, and the NTSB stated that it will provide updates as the investigation progresses.
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