A devastating plane crash and explosion at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport has left at least seven people dead and eleven injured, authorities confirmed Tuesday evening. The UPS cargo plane, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 made in 1991, crashed while taking off from the global aviation hub in the Kentucky city at around 5:15 p.m.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with flames engulfing the plane's left wing and sending a trail of smoke into the air. Video footage showed the aircraft lifting slightly before crashing and exploding in a massive fireball, causing widespread destruction and debris scattered along the runway.
"It's like a war zone," said Tom Brooks Jr., owner of a nearby metal recycling business that was directly hit by the blast. "This was massive."
The airport was shut down immediately after the crash and is expected to remain closed until Wednesday morning due to safety concerns.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear described the scene as "violent" and warned that the death toll could rise. He also expressed his concern for the three crew members on board, whose status remains unknown.
"It's like a bomb because of the amount of fuel," said aviation attorney Pablo Rojas, analyzing the footage from the crash site.
The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation into the cause of the disaster. Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg stated that all necessary measures are being taken to ensure the safety of airport personnel and passengers.
As news of the tragedy spread, friends and family members gathered outside a police training academy in search of information about missing loved ones. "We don't even want to think about anything but the best," said Bobby Whelan, friend of a woman who was reportedly in line when the explosion occurred.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, with many residents expressing their concern and support for those affected. UPS has announced that it will halt package sorting at its facility in Louisville until further notice.
In all, 11 people were injured, some with "very significant" injuries, while four of those killed were not even on board the plane. The full extent of the damage is still unfolding, but one thing is certain: this tragedy has left a profound impact on the city of Louisville and its residents.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with flames engulfing the plane's left wing and sending a trail of smoke into the air. Video footage showed the aircraft lifting slightly before crashing and exploding in a massive fireball, causing widespread destruction and debris scattered along the runway.
"It's like a war zone," said Tom Brooks Jr., owner of a nearby metal recycling business that was directly hit by the blast. "This was massive."
The airport was shut down immediately after the crash and is expected to remain closed until Wednesday morning due to safety concerns.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear described the scene as "violent" and warned that the death toll could rise. He also expressed his concern for the three crew members on board, whose status remains unknown.
"It's like a bomb because of the amount of fuel," said aviation attorney Pablo Rojas, analyzing the footage from the crash site.
The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation into the cause of the disaster. Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg stated that all necessary measures are being taken to ensure the safety of airport personnel and passengers.
As news of the tragedy spread, friends and family members gathered outside a police training academy in search of information about missing loved ones. "We don't even want to think about anything but the best," said Bobby Whelan, friend of a woman who was reportedly in line when the explosion occurred.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, with many residents expressing their concern and support for those affected. UPS has announced that it will halt package sorting at its facility in Louisville until further notice.
In all, 11 people were injured, some with "very significant" injuries, while four of those killed were not even on board the plane. The full extent of the damage is still unfolding, but one thing is certain: this tragedy has left a profound impact on the city of Louisville and its residents.
i'm so shocked and my heart goes out to everyone who was affected by this tragedy 
why did this have to happen? was it an accident or something else entirely? 
the footage is so disturbing, i don't know how anyone could be in that situation without being traumatized 
is it true that four of those killed weren't even on the plane? what were they doing there? 
anyway, my thoughts are with everyone who lost loved ones and is struggling to cope with this devastating news 
this is just awful. can you imagine being in line for your flight and then BAM! 
. my only hope is that everyone involved in this tragedy gets the help they need and that the community of Louisville comes together to support each other during this tough time 
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. The fact that the plane was carrying fuel makes total sense though - you can see how explosive that would be if something went wrong. I hope the investigation gets to the bottom of this soon, but it already feels like the aftermath is going to be a long and difficult road for everyone involved 
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i was watching videos online 2 hours ago and it looks like total chaos they were saying 11 people hurt 4 of them weren't even on the plane whoa did you see those flames engulfing the thing it's insane that no one else got hurt tho 
maybe it was bad luck or whatever but still crazy news
anyway, this is super scary and i hope they get to the bottom of it ASAP 
... I'm sending all my thoughts & prayers to the families of the victims 
... The investigation will help us figure out what happened, but it's just not fair that this had to happen 
... Can't wait for the airport to reopen & the city to heal a bit 
The NTSB is investigating now, hope they can figure out what went down 
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Anyway, this airport should be closed for a loooong time, gotta make sure everyone's safe. RIP to those who lost their lives 
and I feel bad for the people who lost loved ones or got hurt...