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Cargo plane crashes in Kentucky, killing at least seven people
A UPS cargo plane burst into flames and crashed shortly after takeoff from Louisville International Airport on Tuesday, killing at least seven people, according to Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear. Officials fear the death toll could rise as search operations continue through the wreckage.
The UPS Flight 2976, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 bound for Hawaii, went down around 5:15 p.m. local time, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The company confirmed that three crew members were aboard the aircraft.
Eyewitness footage broadcast by local station WLKY showed the left engine on fire as the aircraft attempted to take off before exploding a few kilometers from the runway. The crash site, located about five kilometers from the airport, engulfed nearby warehouses and parking areas in flames, leaving behind a massive plume of black smoke.
Emergency teams have deployed air-quality monitoring tools amid concerns about potential pollution from the fire. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is expected to arrive Wednesday to investigate the cause of the crash.
The incident occurred amid a government budget impasse that has disrupted air travel nationwide. Thousands of air traffic controllers have been working without pay since early October, causing widespread delays and cancellations.
UPS Airlines operates one of the largest cargo fleets in the world, with around 500 aircraft, including 27 MD-11s — the same model involved in Tuesday’s accident.