At least seven people have died and 11 others have been injured following the crash of a UPS cargo plane on Tuesday in Louisville, Kentucky. The incident occurred shortly after takeoff, resulting in a significant fireball, according to Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear.
“The news out of Louisville is tough tonight as the death toll has now reached at least 7, with that number expected to rise,” Beshear stated on X. “First responders are onsite and working hard to extinguish the fire and continue the investigation.”
“Air monitoring assets have been deployed, and we are working to keep the public informed and ensure the safety of those in the area. We will share more information as it becomes available,” he added.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that the plane crashed at approximately 5:15 p.m. local time (2215 GMT).
The FAA confirmed that the aircraft went down “after departing from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky.”
UPS announced that the US National Transportation Safety Board is conducting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
The flight was en route to Honolulu, Hawaii, at the time of the incident.
Footage from broadcaster WLKY, a CBS affiliate, showed the plane taking off with flames visible on one wing, followed by a massive fireball upon impact. Several buildings in an industrial area beyond the runway caught fire after the crash, with thick smoke billowing into the evening sky, visible from several miles away.
Louisville Metro Emergency Services has issued a shelter-in-place order for all locations within five miles (eight kilometers) of the airport.
