A UPS plane caught fire and exploded as it took off Tuesday evening from Louisville’s airport, killing and injuring several.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said UPS Flight 2976 from the Louisville Muhammad Ali International to Honolulu had a “catastrophic crash” around 5:15 p.m. Two business just south of the airport, Kentucky Petroleum Recycling and Grade A Auto Parts, were impacted by the plane and its debris.
Beshear said he expects the death and injury toll to grow.
Video showed a plane attempting to take off southbound from the airport with a fire burning off the left wing. Shortly thereafter, it exploded.
Beshear said the plane was carrying 38,000 gallons of fuel, and the impact to several of the businesses in the path could create an environmental issue.
As of 8 p.m. a shelter-in-place remained in place for everything between Outer Loop and the Ohio River, covering a large portion of the city. An earlier issuance covered just a 5-mile radius from the airport. Areas south of Outer Loop were cleared from the shelter-in-place.
A separate shelter-in-place was activated in Jeffersonville, Indiana, from 10th Street to the Ohio River and east along the river to the Port of Indiana.
Fire Chief Brian O’Neill said every building in the area is being searched by emergency responders, looking for survivors trapped in the rubble.
Louisville Metro Police said its training academy at 2911 Taylor Blvd. will be used for “victim reunification.” Chaplains, the police Victim Services Unit and the American Red Cross will be there.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation and provide all updates.
All arriving and departing flights at the Louisville International Airport were temporarily suspended and the airfield was closed. Passengers were advised to closely monitor their flight status via their airline’s website or mobile app.
Source: WDRB
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