UPS MD-11 cargo freighter crashes south of Louisville airport

Screenshot from video posted to X by BNO NewsUPDATE, 10 A.M. WEDNESDAY, NOV. 5: The number of people killed in the crash of a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 cargo plane at Louisville International Muhammad Ali Airport (SDF) stood at nine the morning after, according to numerous media reports.Local station WLKY-TV cited UofL Hospital in that two victims remained in critical condition and eight others are being treated for injuries but are expected to survive. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear stated on social media that 16 families have reached out about missing loved ones, and he expects the number of casualties to rise. As of 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, the FAA said the airport had reopened but that multiple taxiways remained closed. NTSB board member Todd Inman will lead a press conference in Louisville at a time and location to be determined on Wednesday as a go-team arrived to investigate the crash, the agency stated on social media. The crash has significantly impacted operations at the main air hub for UPS - Worldport - located at the SDF. The package handler posted on its website that its second-day sort at the facility was canceled for Wednesday and that those employees should not report to work. All package operations at Worldport were halted on Tuesday night. "We are terribly saddened by the accident tonight in Louisville. Our heartfelt thoughts are with everyone involved," a statement read. "UPS is committed to the safety of our employees, our customers and the communities we serve. This is particularly true in Louisville, home to our airline and thousands of UPSers." Family members of UPS workers seeking information should call 800-631-0604. Boeing posted on social media that it will support its customer and offer assistance to the NTSB and that the company's concern was for the safety and well-being of everyone affected. Original story from Tuesday appears below:At least three people were killed when a UPS cargo plane, flight 2976, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 bound for Hawaii, crashed on departure Tuesday evening from Louisville International Muhammad Ali Airport (SDF).Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear confirmed the fatalities during an 8 p.m. press update. He did not provide an initial source of that information and said he did not have any information on the status of the crew."Watching that video, I think we're all very, very worried about them," he said. UPS affirmed on its website moments before the briefing that three crewmembers were aboard the MD-11 when it crashed.The crash happened around 5:15 local time and the plane was scheduled to fly to Daniel K Inouye International Airport (HNL) in Honolulu. The airport shared a post stating the plane departed from the West Runway (17R/35L).A GlobalAir.com staff member spoke to a person volunteering at a local hospital who said doctors and nurses were treating burn victims. UofL Hospital told outlets it was treating patients but did not provide specifics.Beshear said at least 11 people were being treated for injuries, with some of them being seriously hurt. He said he expects the number of fatalities and those injured in the plane crash to rise.The plane crashed into two businesses, Kentucky Petroleum Recycling and Grade A Auto Parts, a salvage yard. Grade A had accounted for all of its employees except for two, according to Beshear, but did not know how many customers or others were at the location when the crash happened.Beshear encouraged the community to offer prayers, support and love for those impacted by the disaster."Anybody who has seen the images or the video knows how violent this crash is, and there are a lot of families that are going to be waiting and wondering for a period of time", he said. The airport is home to UPS Worldport, the company's main air-shipping hub, and street closures were reported locally just south of the airport. GlobalAir.com is located east of the airport in Louisville. A five-mile shelter-in-place order was enacted by local officials just before 6 p.m. By 7:30 p.m., it was extended to include most of the central section of the city, including downtown, from Outer Loop south of the airport to the Ohio River. Speaking on WLKY-TV locally, Rep. Morgan McGarvey, whose district includes much of the city, said friends and loved ones shared with him photos and videos of ash falling from the sky from throughout Louisville. Video shared on social media, just south of the airport, showed a fireball and smoke plume consuming the surrounding area as drivers turned around to flee. GlobalAir.com validated the apparent location of the video business signs, including Grade A Auto, indicating it was taken on nearby Grade LaneSmoke could be seen from across the city for at least 12 miles as the sun set. The FAA and NTSB will lead the investigation. The airport remained closed as of 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, with no word on when it would reopen.