Seven Dead, As Cargo Plane Explodes Minutes After Takeoff (Video)

At least seven people have lost their lives after a UPS cargo plane crashed and exploded into flames shortly after takeoff from the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky on Tuesday evening.

According to officials, 11 others sustained injuries, while the intense fire from the crash forced airport operations to shut down overnight.

Reuters reported that the wide-body aircraft, identified as UPS Flight 2976, went down just minutes after leaving the runway at around 5:15 p.m. local time. The airport serves as the main global hub for UPS’s air operations.

In a viral video from the scene, one of the plane’s wings appeared to be on fire before the aircraft plunged to the ground, triggering a massive explosion. Thick black smoke billowed into the sky as nearby industrial buildings caught fire from the impact.

Watch the video below;

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg confirmed that four of the deceased were on the ground when the crash occurred. Eleven others were rushed to nearby hospitals with varying degrees of injuries.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, who later addressed the press, confirmed the death toll at seven but cautioned that the figure could rise as emergency crews continued recovery operations.

In a statement, UPS expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and assured customers that contingency plans were already being implemented to minimize disruptions to deliveries.

“Some deliveries may be affected by the crash, but contingency plans are in place to help ensure shipments arrive at their final destinations as quickly as possible,” the company said.

Aviation safety expert John Cox, while speaking on the incident, suggested that the scale of the fire indicated a major mechanical or operational failure.

“It’s too big a fire for a normal, typical engine fire,” he said. “That airplane should have been able to fly on two engines, so investigators need to find out what went wrong.”

Authorities say airport operations are expected to resume by Wednesday morning as investigations into why the UPS cargo plane exploded.
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