A UPS cargo plane's left wing caught fire and an engine fell off moments before it crashed and exploded in Kentucky, according to US aviation authorities. The crash, which occurred on Tuesday local time, resulted in at least nine fatalities, the destruction of the aircraft, and smaller explosions at a nearby recycling facility and auto salvage yard in Louisville. The McDonnell Douglas MD-11, manufactured in 1991, was en route to Honolulu from UPS Worldport at Louisville's Muhammad Ali International Airport when it crashed during takeoff at approximately 5:15 p.m. Approximately 200 firefighters and emergency personnel, along with 50 trucks, were dispatched to combat the intense blaze that filled the evening sky with thick, black smoke.
The University of Louisville Hospital reported that two individuals were in critical condition in the burns unit on Wednesday, while 13 others had been treated and discharged. Five people received treatment at other hospitals. The National Transportation Safety Board has initiated an investigation, and Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has predicted an increase in the death toll. As of now, 16 families have gathered at a reunification center seeking news about their missing loved ones.
Mark Little, chief of the Okolona Fire District in Louisville, acknowledged the extensive damage, stating that most of the debris, including vehicles and the plane, had been destroyed. The large debris zone poses a challenge, as some of it will need to be moved and searched beneath. This process is expected to take a considerable amount of time.
The airport, located about 11 kilometers from downtown Louisville, is situated near residential areas, a water park, and museums. Residents in the immediate vicinity were advised not to consume tap water due to potential contamination. UPS expressed profound sadness over the incident, emphasizing the significance of the Louisville package handling facility, which is the company's largest, employing thousands of workers and handling 300 flights daily, sorting over 400,000 packages per hour.
Governor Beshear declared a state of emergency in Kentucky, citing the need for swift resource mobilization to address the crash's aftermath. The international airport reopened to air traffic on Wednesday, but the runway where the accident occurred is anticipated to remain closed for an additional 10 days. UPS suspended package-sorting operations at its airport facility and canceled a scheduled parcel-sorting shift on Wednesday.
The MD-11 plane, which ended production in 2000 and ceased passenger services in 2014, is still in use for cargo operations. Approximately 50 MD-11 planes are operated by FedEx and UPS worldwide, with two additional planes of the same type still in service. GE Aerospace, the engine manufacturer, has offered its support to UPS and the NTSB.
Aviation safety expert Anthony Brickhouse noted that investigators will likely focus on the number-one engine, which was seen on video igniting and separating from the aircraft. Despite the design of the aircraft to continue flying with one engine, further analysis is required to understand the impact of the engine failure on the overall aircraft performance.
This incident marks the first UPS cargo plane crash since August 2013, when an Airbus aircraft crashed during landing approach at the international airport in Birmingham, Alabama, resulting in the deaths of both crew members.
