At least three people were killed and 11 injured after a UPS cargo plane crashed in Louisville, Kentucky, erupting into a massive fireball shortly after takeoff, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said Tuesday at a press briefing.
“We believe we have at least three fatalities. I believe that number is going to get larger,” Beshear said. “Anybody who has seen the images in the video know how violent this crash is”.
The plane had three crew members on board, according to UPS.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg also confirmed the fatalities in a post on X, adding that “those injured” were “being treated at area hospitals.”
DON'T MISS
What do we know about the crash so far?
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the plane crashed at about 5:15 p.m (2215 GMT) local time.
The plane crashed “after departing from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky,” the FAA said in a statement.
UPS said that the US National Transportation Safety Board was conducting an investigation into what happened.
The flight was taking off, and heading for Honolulu, Hawaii.
Broadcaster WLKY, a CBS affiliate, showed footage of the crash. The plane took off with fire on one wing, and a huge fireball broke out as it hit the ground. Several buildings in an industrial area beyond the runway were ablaze after the crash, with thick plumes of smoke rising into the evening sky, visible from several miles away.
Smoke was seen billowing out from afarImage: Leandro Lozada/AFP
Louisville Metro Emergency Services said it had issued a shelter-in-place order for all locations within five miles (8 kilometers) of the airport.
Edited by: Srinivas Mazumdaru
