LOUISVILLE: At least seven people were killed and eleven others injured when a UPS freight plane crashed shortly after taking off from Louisville International Airport, setting off a massive explosion and fire that engulfed a nearby petroleum facility.
Officials warned that the death toll could rise as recovery operations continue through the night.
Governor Andy Beshear confirmed the casualties, calling the crash “a devastating tragedy for our state.” Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said the three crew members aboard the aircraft are presumed dead, while four of the victims were on the ground when the plane struck an industrial area.
The aircraft went down on Tuesday, minutes after departure, slamming into Kentucky Petroleum Recycling, a facility that stores oil and propane. The impact triggered multiple explosions and sent thick plumes of black smoke billowing for miles.
Fire Chief Brian O’Neill said the inferno spread rapidly across a wide area but was later contained by hundreds of firefighters who created a “formal grid” to search for additional victims. “There are some storage tanks there that have propane and oil. Some of those have ruptured. You might have heard there were some secondary explosions,” he said, adding that some of the noises came from safety valves releasing pressure as designed.
Governor Beshear confirmed the facility “appeared to have been hit pretty directly,” describing the damage as catastrophic. Authorities have cordoned off the crash site due to fuel leaks and structural instability. “The area is still going to be a mess because of the fuel leaks and the oil,” Chief O’Neill said.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will lead the investigation, supported by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). A 28-member NTSB team is expected to arrive in Louisville on Wednesday to examine the wreckage, collect flight data, and interview witnesses.
Emergency crews are expected to remain at the scene for several days as they work to secure hazardous materials and recover evidence from the crash site.
