Daijiworld Media Network – Louisville
Louisville, Nov 5: Tragedy struck Louisville on Tuesday evening when a large UPS cargo aircraft burst into flames and crashed while taking off from the Muhammad Ali International Airport, claiming at least three lives and injuring 11 others. Authorities warned that the toll could rise as rescue operations continue.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 aircraft, manufactured in 1991, was en route to Honolulu when it crashed around 5:15 p.m. shortly after takeoff.
Dramatic visuals from the scene showed the plane’s left wing ablaze, trailing thick smoke before briefly lifting off the runway and exploding into a massive fireball. Parts of a nearby building’s roof were seen shredded due to the impact.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear urged citizens to keep the victims in their prayers. “We’re asking all Kentuckians to pray for those that have been impacted,” he told The Associated Press, adding that emergency responders faced difficulty due to ongoing fires and the risk of explosions. “It is still a very dangerous situation with different flammables or potentially explosive materials,” he said.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg described the situation as “extremely concerning” due to the large quantity of fuel aboard the aircraft.
The crash prompted a large-scale emergency response from police and fire units, while authorities issued a shelter-in-place order for all areas north of the airport up to the Ohio River. The affected area includes residential neighborhoods, a water park, and several museums.
Louisville serves as UPS’s largest global air hub, employing thousands of workers and handling more than 300 daily flights. The facility processes over 400,000 packages every hour.
Officials said investigations are underway to determine the cause of the fatal crash.