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Seven people were killed when a UPS cargo plane crashed while taking off from an airport in Louisville, Kentucky on Tuesday evening, the state’s governor said.
At least 11 other people were injured when the freight plane exploded as it departed Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport at around 17:15 local time (22:15 GMT), sending thick plumes of black smoke into the sky.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said the plane’s three crew members were likely to be among the dead, adding that, “Anyone who has seen the images and the video knows how violent this crash is”.
Officials warned that people suffered “very significant” injuries in the incident and the death toll could rise.
UPS flight 2976 bound for Honolulu, Hawaii was carrying 38,000 gallons (144,000 litres) of fuel when it skidded off the runway in Louisville and struck nearby buildings.
The explosion engulfed at least two nearby businesses, including a petroleum recycling company. A shelter-in-place order was initially issued for within five miles of the airport due to concerns of further explosions and air pollution, but was later reduced to just one mile.
All departing flights for Tuesday evening were cancelled, the airport said in a statement on X.
Louisville Fire Dept Chief Brian O’Neill said the fire has almost entirely been contained, with crews still deployed at the crash site.
“When you have such a large scale incident and fire that spread over such a massive area, we have to use hundreds of personnel to surround it, contain it, and then slowly bring it in,” O’Neill said.
He added: “These are trained firefighters from all around the region that are handling this to search, grid by grid, very carefully to make sure if we can find any other victims.”
At a press conference, Beshear warned people not to go to the crash site, saying that, “There are still dangerous things that are flammable, that are potentially explosive.”
Beshear said he would not “speculate” as to what caused the incident, adding that the National Transportation Safety Bureau (NTSB) would be leading the investigation.
The NTSB’s investigative team is scheduled to arrive in Kentucky on Wednesday.
Louisville Metro Police Dept Chief Paul Humphrey said that the crash site will be “an ongoing active scene for the next several days”.
He added: “We don’t know how long it’s going to take to render that scene safe for the investigation to take place.”
The aircraft was a MD-11F, a triple-engine jet that started service 34 years ago with Thai Airways as a passenger jet, but was transferred to UPS in 2006.
The MD-11F was originally manufactured by McDonnell Douglas, which merged with Boeing in 1997.
MD-11s are just over 61 metres long and have a wingspan of 52 metres, smaller than Boeing 747s , which are roughly 76 metres long and have a wingspan of 68 metres.
In 2023, FedEx and UPS both announced plans to begin retiring their fleets of MD-11s over the next decade as part of plans to modernise their fleets.
In a statement, Boeing said it is “ready to support our customer” and that “our concern is for the safety and well-being of all those affected.”
It added that it will offer technical assistance to the NTSB.
Louisville is home to UPS Worldport, a global hub for the delivery firm’s air cargo operations and its largest package handling facility in the world.
During the press conference, Louisville Metro Council member Betsy Ruhe said that the city is a “UPS town”, and that every resident would know somebody who works for company.
“They’re all texting their friends, their family, trying to make sure everyone is safe,” she said.
In a statement, UPS said it was “terribly saddened” by the incident and would be halting package sorting operations at Worldport on Tuesday night.
It added: “UPS is committed to the safety of our employees, and customers and the communities we serve. This is particularly true in Louisville, home to our airline and thousands of UPSers.”
State Senator Keturah Herron said, “Many of us watch our family members and loved ones pass through [Louisville airport] on a regular basis.”
In a post on X, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said that the plane crash is an “incredible tragedy that our community will never forget”.
He added: “We are so thankful for our brave first responders who have flooded the scene to help try and control the fire and provide support for any victims on the ground.”
