A UPS cargo jet crashed near Louisville’s international airport on Tuesday night, causing an explosion and a major fire that extended across several city blocks, leaving at least nine people dead, fifteen injured, and sixteen unaccounted for.
The cargo jet crashed at approximately 5:15 p.m., according to the Federal Aviation Administration, while it was taking off from SDF and traveling toward Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, Hawaii.
The first four confirmed deaths, according to Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg, were individuals who weren’t on the aircraft.
Gov. Andy Beshear said he expects those numbers to grow. “It may be some time until we can account for everyone,” he said.
UPS confirmed there were three crewmembers on board. Because of the long trip, the plane was fully fueled, carrying about 38,000 gallons of fuel, which caused a large fire and dangerous plumes of smoke. The fire spread easily to nearby facilities, including a large recycling center.
Fire officials said they are going door-to-door in the immediate area to make sure everyone is accounted for. The fires from the crash were out as of 11 p.m. Tuesday night. It took more than 100 first responders more than six hours to get it under control.
According to SDF, screening at the TSA security checkpoint has been temporarily halted and the airfield is closed. Passengers should keep a close eye on their flight status if they are due to depart from or arrive at SDF on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Operations at UPS Worldport are being suspended. Employees are not expected to report to work on Tuesday night due to the cancellation of Next Day Air sort.
There were no dangerous materials on board, according to Beshear. Officials stated that there are still a number of businesses impacted and that certain hazardous materials need to be addressed.
In light of the collision, LG&E de-energized power lines into a nearby station for safety reasons, disrupting service for about 290 customers. Additionally, they cut off a section of their gas system, which affected over ninety people. As emergency personnel continue to work, officials warn that these figures may fluctuate.
An MD-11 is the kind of aircraft that went down. It is thirty-four years old. According to UPS, the National Transportation Safety Board will be the main source of information and is in charge of the inquiry.