At least 9 dead after UPS plane crash at Louisville airport
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Fire and smoke mark where a UPS cargo plane crashed near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Louisville, Kentucky, on Tuesday. Photo: Stephen Cohen/Getty Images
The death toll following a UPS plane crash at a Louisville airport in Kentucky and subsequent explosion rose to nine as of Wednesday morning, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said on X.
The big picture: The UPS said the plane was carrying three people when it crashed shortly after taking off from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on Tuesday. Officials originally said the crash killed three people and injured 11.
- Some people were very seriously injured and being treated at local hospitals and at least two businesses were hit "pretty directly," Gov. Andy Beshear said at a Tuesday evening briefing.
- The status of the flight crew was not immediately known, but Beshear said he's "very concerned" for them after seeing videos of the crash. On Wednesday, Beshear said 16 different families reported loved ones unaccounted for.
- The Louisville Metro Police Department originally issued a shelter-in-place order that was expanded to all areas north of the airport to the Ohio River. This was later reduced to a one-mile radius around the airport, said Louisville Metro Emergency Services on X just before 9pm ET Tuesday.
Situation report: UPS flight 2976 was scheduled to fly from Louisville to Honolulu when it went down around 5:15pm local time, the FAA said on X.
- Greenberg said in a statement posted to his social media channels that the plane was carrying 280,000 gallons of fuel when the crash happened.
- However, Beshear said at the briefing that there wasn't any "specifically hazardous" cargo on board, but warned nearby areas could be impacted by what could create an "environmental issue."
- Louisville Metro Police Department Chief Paul Humphrey said at the Tuesday evening briefing that the crash site will be "an ongoing active scene for the next several days."
What they're saying: Greenberg said he's "praying for the crew" and thanked the "brave first responders who have flooded the scene to help try and control the fire" and support "any victims on the ground."
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on X described the crash images as "heartbreaking" and offered prayers for "the Louisville community and flight crew impacted by this horrific crash."
Context: The Louisville airport is the worldwide air hub for UPS, measuring more than five million square feet and processing about two million packages per day.
What we're watching: The National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation, providing all major updates with the assistance of the Federal Aviation Administration, per an FAA post to X.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with details as of Wednesday.
