At least nine people were killed after a UPS cargo plane erupted into a fireball just after takeoff near the Louisville International Airport on Tuesday (November 4), Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg confirmed in a post shared on social media Wednesday (November 5) morning.
“UPDATE: First responders have located 9 victims at the site of the UPS crash . We will continue to provide information as available. @loukyfire @LMPD @LouMetroES,” Greenberg wrote on his X account.
New footage shows the cargo plane attempt to takeoff as fire emanates from its left wing, with the plane exploding moments later. Dashcam footage showed the plane crashing back into the runway, resulting in a massive blaze.
(Warning: the video below includes a real reaction with some coarse language).
Gov. Andy Beshear had previously announced that at least seven people were killed in the plane crash, but acknowledged that the fatalities were expected to increase, in an update shared on his X account Tuesday night, before later confirming that 16 families have reported loved ones who are unaccounted for in an update on Wednesday.
“At the reunification center at 2911 Taylor Blvd., 16 different families have reported loved ones unaccounted for. A significant search and rescue mission was underway overnight, which is continuing this morning. The shelter in place has been reduced for the Louisville area,” Beshear wrote.
At least 11 others were reported to have suffered injuries, officials had previously confirmed. UPS Flight 2976 crashed at around 5:15 p.m. local time, just after departing from Louisville International Airport.
The plane was en route to Honolulu, Hawaii, when it went down about three miles south of the airfield, Louisville International Airport public safety officer Jonathan Biven confirmed during a news conference. Beshear confirmed that there wasn’t any hazardous cargo onboard the plane that could’ve resulted in any potential environmental issues near the crash site but still urged residents to follow shelter-in-place protocol.
Police described the scene as active with “fire and debris,” urging residents to avoid the intersection of Fern Valley and Grade Lane located on the south side of the airport where the UPS hub is located.
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