LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The death toll rose to nine on Wednesday as authorities continued search and rescue efforts to determine the cause of a catastrophic plane crash in which a United Parcel Service plane became engulfed in a fireball, officials announced.
The UPS plane was heading to Honolulu from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport when it crashed around 5:15 p.m. local time Tuesday, authorities said. Video of the crash showed one of the plane’s wings catching fire and a huge fireball erupting as the plane hit the ground.
According to authorities, the three crew members on board the plane died in the accident. Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg announced at a late night news conference that four people were pronounced dead at the scene and 11 injured people were taken to local hospitals. Greenburgh and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear announced early Wednesday that the remaining two people were found dead by first responders at the scene.
“These families need prayers, love and support right now. Let’s wrap our arms around them during this unimaginable time,” Beshear said.
Crews respond to reported plane crash near Louisville International Airport
Authorities are advising the public to avoid the area around Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport following reports of a plane crash.
Search and rescue efforts continued Wednesday morning, with at least 16 families at the reunification center still missing loved ones, Beshear said. The death toll is expected to rise further, he added.
“Anyone who has seen the images or video knows how violent this crash was. Many families will be waiting in wonder for some time,” Beshear said Tuesday.
The cause of the crash was not immediately clear, and 28 members of the National Transportation Safety Board are expected to arrive in Louisville Wednesday morning to investigate with the Federal Aviation Administration.
The company said the blaze caused by the crash sparked a series of fires in an industrial area adjacent to the airport. The airport is home to UPS Worldport, an international aviation hub that the company says is “the world’s largest fully automated baggage handling facility.” The hub has more than 300 flights to and from the hub each day and processes approximately 2 million parcels each day.
Following the incident, the airport suspended operations until Tuesday evening. UPS also announced that it has suspended operations such as package sorting at the facility.
Louisville Airport is “scheduled to be open for passenger and cargo operations” on Wednesday, spokeswoman Nathalie Chaudouin said in a statement.
He said delays and cancellations were still likely and travelers planning to depart from or arrive at the airport should monitor flight status.
“Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky has reopened, but multiple taxiways remain closed,” the FAA said in an update Wednesday morning.
According to the Fly Louisville website, some flights from SDF have been delayed, with flights starting in the evening of Nov. 4 scheduled until the morning. More than 10 flights scheduled for departure by the Self-Defense Forces were cancelled. There are no cancellations of flights arriving at SDF.
The airport previously announced that the airfield was closed Tuesday night. Jonathan Biven, a public safety official at the Louisville Airport, said Tuesday that Runway 1129 was open and all departures for that night had been cancelled.
Kentucky’s largest school system canceled classes Wednesday after the crash and fire. The closure follows a shelter-in-place order issued for areas near the airport on Tuesday.
Jefferson County Public Schools, which has about 93,000 students enrolled and more than 17,000 employees, said students are not expected to perform instructional duties remotely and employees are not expected to come into the office. Extracurricular activities were also canceled.
– Krista Johnson, Courier Journal
Surveillance camera captures the moment a UPS cargo plane crashes in Kentucky
The moment of the catastrophic crash of a UPS cargo plane in Louisville, Kentucky was captured on a nearby security camera.
Damon Fortner, 58, a long-haul truck driver for UPS, told USA TODAY on Tuesday that he was driving near the airport to pick up a large package when he saw a plane flying over a nearby road. “That’s awfully low,” he said.
Seconds later, it exploded just 100 yards from where he parked the pickup. He watched as the plane destroyed utility poles and wires, leaving a trail of fire.
“It exploded. And it went on for a long time. All you could hear was things exploding and black smoke everywhere,” he said. “I could feel the heat.”
“I’ve never seen anything like it in my life,” he said, shaking his head. “I never want to see anything like that.”
All he could think about, he said, was the poor people on the plane. “It brings tears to my eyes.”
– Chris Kenning, USA TODAY
That includes all employees of companies affected by the crash, Greenberg said. The mayor added that authorities were not aware of anyone missing late Tuesday.
“They are identifying individuals that they know about employees and people who were on the premises,” Greenberg said. “Either they’re alive or they’re part of those four victims.”
On Tuesday night, Beshear said authorities believe the main areas affected by the accident include two businesses: Kentucky Oil Recycling and Grade A Auto Parts.
According to the governor, Kentucky Petroleum Recycling was “hit pretty hard.” As for Grade A auto parts, all but two employees were involved in the business, Beshear said.
“Due to the nature of these facilities, it may take some time to account for everyone and ensure that no one else was on the premises,” Beshear said.
Contributor: Amanda Lee Myers, USA TODAY
