A UPS cargo plane crashed on Tuesday afternoon (4) shortly after taking off from Muhammad Ali International Airport, in Louisville, in the north-American state of Kentucky, causing an explosion that killed at least seven people—among them, the three crew members and four local residents. The accident also left 11 injured, who were taken to local hospitals, according to authorities.
According to the Reuters agency, the flames spread rapidly after the impact, reaching an industrial corridor near the airport and forcing the suspension of all air operations until the morning of this Wednesday (5). The aircraft, an MD-11 model, was heading to Honolulu, Hawaii, on a cargo flight with a scheduled duration of eight and a half hours.
Fires and Rescue
The blaze reached several industrial buildings, including an oil recycling center and an auto parts company. The fire took hours to be brought under control, and firefighters established a five-mile (8 km) isolation zone around the area, later reduced to a 1.6 km radius due to the risk of air contamination.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg confirmed the four ground deaths and lamented the tragedy’s impact on the community. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear stated that the number of victims may increase, as some survivors suffered “very serious” injuries.
Engine Failure and Investigation
The plane had taken off around 5:15 p.m. (local time) and, according to Flightradar24 data, reached only 175 feet of altitude before losing lift and crashing. A video aired by WLKY shows fire on one of the wings during takeoff and the explosion upon hitting the ground.
Experts are already analyzing images indicating that one of the three engines may have detached before impact. Pilot and aviation safety expert John Cox said the failure is unusual. “That’s too much fire for a typical engine fire,” he said. “This plane should be able to fly with two engines, so we need to find out why that didn’t happen.”
Old Aircraft and UPS History
Records from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) show that the crashed cargo plane was 34 years old. Manufactured by McDonnell Douglas, the MD-11 model ceased production after the merger with Boeing, which said it is providing technical support to the investigations.
This is the first serious accident involving a UPS plane since 2013, when an Airbus crashed during landing in Birmingham, Alabama, killing the two crew members. The company, in a statement, said it is “deeply shaken” by the incident and assured that contingency plans are being implemented to minimize delivery delays.
Economic and Emotional Impact
Louisville Airport houses Worldport, UPS’s main air sorting center and the largest in the world, responsible for processing about 2 million packages per day and employing 26,000 people.
Councilwoman Betsy Ruhe, who represents the district where the accident occurred, highlighted the emotional impact on the local population. “My heart is with everyone at UPS, because Louisville is a UPS city,” she declared. “Everyone knows someone who works there, and there are entire families trying to find out if their loved ones are okay.”
The investigation into the causes of the disaster will be conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which may take up to two years to complete the final report and issue safety recommendations. Meanwhile, teams continue at the site searching for debris and evidence that may clarify why the plane could not maintain flight after the fire.
Source: brasil247.com