UPS cargo plane crash near Louisville kills 9, injures 11; federal investigation launched

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY: Dozens of federal investigators arrived in Louisville, Kentucky, on Wednesday, November 5, to determine how a UPS cargo plane came down moments after takeoff, reportedly killing at least nine people and injuring 11 others.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said 28 of its agents would begin work at the crash site to recover flight data, analyze debris, and identify possible mechanical or procedural failures that led to the fiery disaster.

The plane, reportedly a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 bound for Honolulu, went down around 5:15 pm local time Tuesday, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Authorities said the aircraft crashed just beyond the runway perimeter, erupting into a massive fireball allegedly visible for miles.

Governor warns death toll could rise as crews search wreckage

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said that the full scale of the tragedy was still being assessed and warned that the death toll could increase as search teams combed through the wreckage.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg confirmed that nine victims had been found so far.

“First responders have located nine total victims at the site of the UPS crash,” Greenberg said. “We will continue to provide information as available.”

Four of those killed were not allegedly onboard the aircraft, said Louisville Fire Department Chief Brian O’Neill. He also suggested that debris and secondary fires had spread into nearby areas.

The UofL Health hospital system reportedly said that it was treating 10 patients, including two in critical condition at its burn center.

Debris field stretches across neighborhoods

Authorities have urged residents near the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport not to touch any debris that may have fallen from the plane.

“We have put together a form where residents can report debris in your yard,” Greenberg wrote on X. “We ask that residents do not touch or move any debris on your own.”

Hundreds of firefighters were deployed to extinguish the flames that engulfed parts of the crash zone.

Officials reportedly said that there were no hazardous materials onboard, though the large quantity of jet fuel allegedly contributed to the scale of the explosion.

Witnesses describe fireball and loud explosions

Videos posted on social media showed the aircraft’s left wing engulfed in flames seconds before impact.

The jet appeared to lift off briefly before crashing and exploding, sending thick black smoke billowing into the sky.

Nearby residents reported hearing loud booms and seeing flames both in the air and on the ground.

Early video analysis suggests that one of the jet’s engines may have detached before the final impact, said Mary Schiavo, a former Department of Transportation Inspector General.

“The parts expel from that engine, the blades spinning and they can cut through the plane and sever fuel lines,” Schiavo told CNN.

“That engine clearly came off of that plane before the final impact. The poor pilots could do nothing at that point,” she added.