A UPS cargo plane crashed and exploded Tuesday while taking off from an airport in Louisville, Kentucky, killing at least seven people and injuring numerous others.Watch aerial footage of the initial scene in the video player above.The plane crashed about 5:15 p.m. as it was departing for Honolulu from Louisville’s Muhammad Ali International Airport, the Federal Aviation Administration said. Video showed flames on the plane’s left wing and a trail of smoke. The plane then lifted slightly off the ground before crashing and exploding in a huge fireball. Video also revealed portions of a building’s shredded roof next to the end of the runway. The death toll had risen to at least seven Tuesday night, and four of those killed were not on the plane, officials said.Among 11 people who were hurt, some had “very significant” injuries, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said.“Anybody who has seen the images, the video, knows how violent this crash is,” he said. Sister station WLKY reports that at least two people are in critical condition and at least eight have non-life-threatening injuries. There are at least two others missing from a nearby auto shop.The governor said a business, Kentucky Petroleum Recycling, appeared to be “hit pretty directly,” and a nearby auto parts operation was also affected.Beshear said he didn’t know the status of the three crew members aboard the plane, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 made in 1991. Because of the long trip, it was fully fueled, leading to the large fire. It spread easily to nearby facilities, like a large recycling center.UPS said the National Transportation Safety Board is in charge of the investigation and will be the primary source of information about the official investigation. According to the FAA National Airspace Status System, the Louisville airport will be closed until 7 a.m. ET Wednesday.“We don’t know how long it’s going to take to render that scene safe,” said Louisville Police Chief Paul Humphrey.WARNING: Video below shows the fiery crash. Viewer discretion advised.A video taken by Leirim Rodríguez shows several massive balls of flames exploding into the sky in a row, followed by large billowing clouds of black smoke. Rodriguez told the AP she and her husband just happened to be in the area at the time of the explosion.Destyn Mitchell said she was working as a host at an Outback restaurant, about a 15-minute drive from the crash, when she heard a “very loud boom.” About 20 people were in the restaurant.“The mood in the restaurant was very shaken up,” Mitchell said. “Everyone is really concerned. People who just sat down to eat got up and left in under 30 minutes and packed up their food because they wanted to hurry up and get home.” The Associated Press contributed to this story.
A UPS cargo plane crashed and exploded Tuesday while taking off from an airport in Louisville, Kentucky, killing at least seven people and injuring numerous others.
Watch aerial footage of the initial scene in the video player above.
The plane crashed about 5:15 p.m. as it was departing for Honolulu from Louisville’s Muhammad Ali International Airport, the Federal Aviation Administration said.
Video showed flames on the plane’s left wing and a trail of smoke. The plane then lifted slightly off the ground before crashing and exploding in a huge fireball. Video also revealed portions of a building’s shredded roof next to the end of the runway.
The death toll had risen to at least seven Tuesday night, and four of those killed were not on the plane, officials said.
Among 11 people who were hurt, some had “very significant” injuries, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said.
“Anybody who has seen the images, the video, knows how violent this crash is,” he said.
Sister station WLKY reports that at least two people are in critical condition and at least eight have non-life-threatening injuries. There are at least two others missing from a nearby auto shop.
The governor said a business, Kentucky Petroleum Recycling, appeared to be “hit pretty directly,” and a nearby auto parts operation was also affected.
Beshear said he didn’t know the status of the three crew members aboard the plane, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 made in 1991.
Because of the long trip, it was fully fueled, leading to the large fire. It spread easily to nearby facilities, like a large recycling center.
UPS said the National Transportation Safety Board is in charge of the investigation and will be the primary source of information about the official investigation.
According to the FAA National Airspace Status System, the Louisville airport will be closed until 7 a.m. ET Wednesday.
“We don’t know how long it’s going to take to render that scene safe,” said Louisville Police Chief Paul Humphrey.
WARNING: Video below shows the fiery crash. Viewer discretion advised.
A video taken by Leirim Rodríguez shows several massive balls of flames exploding into the sky in a row, followed by large billowing clouds of black smoke. Rodriguez told the AP she and her husband just happened to be in the area at the time of the explosion.
Destyn Mitchell said she was working as a host at an Outback restaurant, about a 15-minute drive from the crash, when she heard a “very loud boom.” About 20 people were in the restaurant.
“The mood in the restaurant was very shaken up,” Mitchell said. “Everyone is really concerned. People who just sat down to eat got up and left in under 30 minutes and packed up their food because they wanted to hurry up and get home.”
The Associated Press contributed to this story.