A devastating aviation disaster unfolded in Louisville, Kentucky on Tuesday evening after a UPS cargo plane crashed just minutes after leaving the Louisville International Airport.
Officials confirm at least seven people have died, with that number expected to climb as emergency crews continue to comb through the debris.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear revealed that 16 families have reported loved ones missing, and warned this could become one of the deadliest aviation incidents the state has seen. “Search and rescue continued through the night and is still ongoing this morning,” he posted online.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg also confirmed that several victims were on the ground when the aircraft went down. The Louisville Metro Police Department called the crash scene “active and dangerous,” urging residents to avoid the Fern Valley / Grade Lane area as crews respond.
The FAA says the plane… UPS Flight 2976… took off around 5:15 p.m. local time and was headed to Honolulu in Hawaii when it crashed roughly three miles south of the airport.
UPS officials said the aircraft was not carrying any hazardous materials, but residents were still advised to follow any shelter-in-place instructions.
More than 200 first responders rushed to the burning wreckage. Louisville Fire Chief Brian O’Neill confirmed major flames were knocked down late Tuesday night, allowing teams to begin a detailed grid search for victims.
Videos recorded by witnesses show the UPS plane partially engulfed in flames while speeding along the runway before erupting into a massive fireball mid-crash… a chilling scene spreading rapidly across social media platforms.
This is a developing story.
