Plane loaded with jet fuel explodes into fireball
At least seven dead after incident in Louisville, Kentucky, with number of casualties expected to rise
A UPS cargo plane carrying 280,000 gallons of jet fuel burst into flames in Kentucky, killing at least seven people.
The aircraft exploded shortly after taking off from Louisville International Airport in Kentucky, US authorities confirmed. The aircraft erupted into a fireball and hit two businesses including Kentucky Petroleum Recycling.
Some of the injuries are reported to be serious, and officials have warned the number of casualties is likely to rise.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said at a press conference: “We believe we have at least three fatalities. I believe that number is going to get larger. Anybody who has seen the images in the video knows how violent this crash is.”
He added that the plane was not carrying any “specifically hazardous cargo onboard” that would create an environmental issue for people around the site, but said the impact of the crash could cause hazardous conditions.
UPS Flight 2976, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 freighter bound for Honolulu, Hawaii, went down at around 5.15pm local time (10.15pm UK) on Tuesday. The aircraft was carrying three crew members, according to UPS.
“We do not, at the moment, have the status of the crew,” Mr Beshear said at the press conference. “Watching that video, I think we’re all very, very worried about them.”
The plane reportedly took off with a fire on one wing, and a huge fireball erupted as it hit the ground. Several buildings in an industrial area beyond the runway were set ablaze, and footage from the scene shows a large plume of black smoke rising from the airport tarmac.
Craig Greenberg, Louisville mayor was not in the area at the time of the accident. Officials said he would return to Louisville by 9pm local. Writing on X, Mr Greenberg said: “There are multiple injuries and the fire is still burning. There are many road closures in the area – please avoid the scene. The plane was carrying 280,000 gallons of fuel.”
Mr Beshear said the crash hit two businesses: a recycling centre, which bore the brunt of the impact, and an auto-parts shop, where all but two employees have so far been accounted for. He added that the identities of the missing workers would be released soon.
“There may be people that still need to be rescued. Do not be the reason that the first responders cannot get to them,” Mr Beshear said. “There are still dangerous things that are flammable, that are potentially explosive.”
The airport has closed its airfield while emergency services respond to the incident.
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the crash and said it would lead the investigation alongside the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
The Louisville Metro Police Department said a shelter-in-place order has been issued for all areas within a five-mile radius of the airport, advising residents and businesses to remain indoors while the situation is assessed.
Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport is a major hub for UPS, handling millions of packages daily. The MD-11, originally designed as a wide-bodied passenger aircraft, is now primarily used for cargo operations.
[Source: Daily Telegraph]
