Cargo plane crash in Kentucky USA kills seven, injures eleven, damages properties
At least seven people have been reported dead and 11 others injured in a UPS cargo plane crash. The plane was taking off on Tuesday evening from an airport in Louisville Kentucky, United States, when it crashed.
Kentucky State Governor Andy Beshear said three crew members of the plane were likely to be among the dead after the freight plane exploded as it departed Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport at about 17:15 local time (22:15 GMT), sending thick plumes of black smoke into the sky.
Officials warned that people suffered “very significant” injuries in the incident and the death toll could rise, as two workers at the auto business that was affected by the crash were still unaccounted for as of Tuesday evening, while the number of customers on the premises when the crash happened was still unknown.
UPS said in statement that three crew members were on board, stating that no injuries or casualties have been confirmed yet.
While officials have said that it was too early to determine the cause of the crash, they however stated that the massive blaze was due to the amount of fuel onboard the aircraft, which was beginning a journey of about 4,300 miles (6,920km) to Hawaii, carrying 38,000 gallons (144,000 litres) of fuel. The cargo on board was yet undetermined.
The explosion engulfed at least two nearby businesses, including a petroleum recycling company. A shelter-in-place order was initially issued for within five miles of the airport due to concerns of further explosions and air pollution, but was later reduced to just one mile.
Louisville Fire Department Chief Brian O’Neal said the amount of fuel spilled at the crash site made it a “very dangerous situation”.
At a press conference, Governor Beshear warned people not to go to the crash site. “Anyone who has seen the images and the video knows how violent this crash is. There are still dangerous things that are flammable, that are potentially explosive,” he said.
The aircraft was originally manufactured by McDonnell Douglas, which merged with Boeing in 1997.
In a statement, Boeing said it was ready to support its customer and that its “concern is for the safety and well-being of all those affected”, adding that it would offer technical assistance to the NTSB.
Louisville is home to UPS Worldport, a global hub for the delivery firm’s air cargo operations and its largest package handling facility in the world.
During a press conference, Louisville Metro Council member Betsy Ruhe said that the city is a “UPS town”, and that every resident would know somebody who works for company.
In a statement, UPS said it was “terribly saddened” by the incident and would be halting package sorting operations at Worldport on Tuesday night.
“UPS is committed to the safety of our employees, and customers and the communities we serve. This is particularly true in Louisville, home to our airline and thousands of UPSers,” it added.
BBC and Horse’s Mouth News
