A UPS cargo plane crashed shortly after takeoff near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on Tuesday afternoon. The Federal Aviation Administration reported that UPS flight 2976, en route to Honolulu with three crew members, went down around 5:15 p.m.
Videos circulating online showed a large fireball and a massive smoke plume after the plane went down a few miles from the airport, causing a significant fire. The wreckage sparked a massive blaze in the area.
The death toll from the crash has reached at least nine, which includes confirmed fatalities on the ground. This number may increase as rescue operations continue.
"First responders are on-site and working hard to extinguish the fire and continue the investigation," Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said on X Tuesday night.
Earlier in a press briefing, Governor Beshear added,
"We do not, at the moment, have the status of the crew."
Flight tracking data indicates the plane crashed less than a minute after taking off from Runway 17R. Louisville airport public safety officer Jonathan Biven confirmed the jet crashed roughly three miles south of the airfield.
Governor Beshear also said there was no “specifically hazardous cargo” onboard, but cautioned that the fire remains a danger and risks are present in the vicinity.
Local and nearby fire and police departments have launched a mass emergency response operation.
Louisville Fire Department chief Brian O'Neill stated the aircraft carried around 38,000 gallons of fuel, creating a highly dangerous situation.
"So we're talking about a very, very dangerous situation," O'Neill said.
Summary: A UPS cargo plane crashed near Louisville Airport causing at least nine deaths and a major fire, with emergency teams actively managing a highly hazardous situation.
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