UPS cargo plane crashes in Kentucky killing at least 7 people

A cargo plane crash occurred immediately after takeoff from Louisville on Tuesday (November 4) in the central-eastern United States, specifically in Kentucky, resulting in at least 7 people losing their lives and 11 injured.

UPS cargo plane crashes in Kentucky: At least 7 dead

According to reports, UPS Flight 2976, which had taken off around 5:15 p.m. local time (00:15 Greece time), was heading to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, Hawaii, when it crashed. Initial data from FlightRadar24 shows the aircraft reached an altitude of 175 feet shortly after takeoff, while it was fully loaded with fuel for its flight to Hawaii, which possibly explains the extensive fire that followed.

The crash occurred near Worldport, UPS’s international aviation hub, which processes more than 400,000 packages per hour and hosts 20,000 employees and 300 daily flights.

Fears of rising death toll

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said at a press conference that the number of dead and injured is preliminary and may increase. According to the Louisville mayor, four of the victims were not on the plane, while all three crew members are presumed dead. As Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear noted, some of the injured had “very serious” injuries and are hospitalized at local hospitals. He added that firefighters are working diligently to locate people trapped in buildings after the plane crash in Louisville.

Initial reports from Louisville Police mentioned injuries and trapped individuals, with the area covered in fire and debris. In a later press conference, local police confirmed that four people had died and 11 had been taken to the hospital.

Video shows the aircraft had caught fire during takeoff.

According to a statement from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, all flights to and from the airport have been temporarily suspended as emergency crews respond to the crashed UPS plane. Initially, an evacuation order was issued for a 5-mile area around the airport, which was later extended to all areas north of the airport to the Ohio River. Authorities are warning residents to avoid the Fern Valley and Grade Lane areas, which are located on the south side of the airport that serves as UPS’s hub.

UPS, in its statement, said it was notified of the incident and that three crew members were aboard the aircraft. The company did not provide further details about the condition of those on board.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg, in a post on platform “X,” stated that there were multiple casualties from the UPS plane crash on Tuesday. As he noted: “We have every emergency service responding to the scene. There are multiple injuries and the fire is still burning” and added: “There are many roads closed in the area – please avoid the scene. The plane was carrying 280,000 gallons of fuel“.

Rescue operations and debris removal from the area continue by Police and Fire Services, while authorities are asking for public cooperation to avoid the area.