At Least 11 People Killed, Death Toll Expected To Rise After UPS Plane Crashes In Massive Fireball | Eastern NC Now

    Publisher's Note: This post appears here courtesy of the The Daily Wire. The author of this post is Zach Jewell.

    At least 11 people are dead and others remain seriously injured or are missing after a UPS plane crashed near the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky on Tuesday evening.

    The plane that went down was a McDonnell Douglas MD-11, CBS Louisville affiliate WLKY reported. Companies like UPS and FedEx primarily fly those aircraft to transport cargo. UPS issued a statement confirming that the crash occurred at approximately 5:20 p.m., adding that three crew members were onboard. They are believed to be dead.

    Kentucky Democratic Governor Andy Beshear said on Wednesday that the death toll is "expected to reach 12" by the end of the day.

    Multiple businesses were hit by the plane when it crashed to the ground, including a recycling plant and an auto parts shop, CNN reported. The crash resulted in a "secondary explosion" at the recycling plant, which contained tanks of propane and oil.

    Videos posted on social media showed a massive explosion after the crash, with plumes of smoke rising into the air. Officials issued a shelter-in-place order for people within a five-mile radius of the airport after the crash. That shelter-in-place order remains in effect for those within a one-mile radius of the airport, forcing some schools in the area to cancel classes on Wednesday.

    Since the plane was on a long trip to Hawaii, it was fully fueled. The fire following the crash quickly spread to nearby buildings.

    Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said at a press conference on Wednesday that the crash appears to have been caused by mechanical failure and had nothing to do with the air traffic controller shortages from the government shutdown.

    The UPS plane was departing for Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Other videos circulating on social media appear to show the left wing of the MD-11 catching fire as it cruises down the runway before takeoff. One of the plane's engines was found on the ground mostly intact, which will likely help investigators determine what led to the crash.

    The National Transportation Safety Board said on Wednesday said that it "viewed airport CCTV security coverage, which shows the left engine detaching from the wing during the takeoff roll."


    "Heartbreaking images coming out of Kentucky tonight," said Duffy in a post on Tuesday. "Please join me in prayer for the Louisville community and flight crew impacted by this horrific crash. The @NTSB and @FAANews are mobilizing to get on the ground and will lead the investigation."

    The Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport serves as UPS's worldwide air hub, with around 300 UPS flights taking off and landing there every day.