Overview
- Louisville’s mayor said the death toll has climbed to 12 and several people remain unaccounted for as search operations continue.
- An NTSB investigator reported that the left engine separated on the runway, the engine was recovered on airport grounds, and both flight recorders were sent to Washington for analysis.
- The MD-11, carrying three crew, failed to lift off, struck industrial facilities including an oil recycling site, narrowly missed a Ford assembly plant, and came to rest about five kilometers from the runway amid large fires and smoke.
- Local officials said the tri‑jet carried about 144,000 liters of fuel, and authorities deployed extensive firefighting resources and air‑quality monitoring.
- UPS temporarily halted sorting at its Louisville hub as the airport experienced disruptions, and the crash comes as controller shortages tied to a federal budget impasse are prompting the government to ask airlines to reduce flights.