Post by : Raina
Al-Fahim
A UPS cargo jet went down shortly after departing Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, officials said, killing at least seven people and wounding 11. The aircraft, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 manufactured in 1991, was bound for Honolulu when it went into distress at about 5:15 p.m.
Video posted by witnesses showed flames coming from the plane's left wing and a streak of smoke as it failed to climb. The aircraft then detonated in a large fireball near the runway's end, scattering wreckage and inflicting heavy damage on nearby buildings, including one structure with its roof ripped away.
Authorities indicated four of the deceased were on the ground; the condition of the three crew members who were aboard has not been fully confirmed. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said multiple people suffered serious injuries and described the scene as among the most violent he had seen.
UPS paused operations at its Worldport facility — the company's primary package-handling hub in Louisville that employs thousands and supports more than 300 daily flights — disrupting sorting work that normally processes hundreds of thousands of packages each hour.
Louisville Police Chief Paul Humphrey announced the airport will stay closed until the site is secured. Businesses close to the impact zone, including Kentucky Petroleum Recycling and an auto parts shop, reported major damage. Witnesses compared the area to a war zone as explosions lit the sky and thick black smoke spread for miles.
The National Transportation Safety Board said it will lead a comprehensive investigation. Early indicators point to a fire near the left engine that may have ignited large quantities of jet fuel on board, but investigators emphasized the inquiry is ongoing.
The Louisville community remains reeling as local officials provide aid to victims and families while investigators work to determine the cause of one of the city's most severe recent aviation disasters.
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