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Louisville UPS Cargo Jet Crash Kills At Least 9 as Search Continues

The NTSB now leads the investigation into a crash captured on video showing a wing fire before loss of control.

Overview

  • Officials say at least nine people are dead and 11 injured, with 16 still unaccounted for, after UPS Flight 2976 went down shortly after a 5:15 p.m. takeoff from Louisville.
  • Louisville’s mayor confirmed all three crew members were killed along with at least six people on the ground, and warned the toll could rise as daylight search and recovery progresses.
  • The McDonnell Douglas MD-11, bound for Honolulu, struck two nearby businesses — Kentucky Petroleum Recycling and Grade A Auto Parts — igniting large fires and multiple explosions.
  • More than 100 firefighters contained the blaze by late evening; a shelter-in-place order was later narrowed and one airport runway has reopened after an overnight suspension of flights.
  • UPS halted sorting at its Worldport hub Tuesday night and is cooperating with the NTSB and FAA; investigators will examine videos showing a left-wing/engine fire and a reported fuel load of about 38,000 gallons.