Details of the Accident and Casualties

A 34-year-old UPS MD-11 cargo aircraft crashed at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) in Kentucky. The accident occurred at approximately 5:15 p.m. local time as the plane was executing its takeoff sequence, destined for Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, Hawaii.

The impact resulted in a massive explosion, releasing dangerous plumes of smoke and generating a sea of fire that spread nearly a mile. The horrific incident led to significant casualties:

At least seven people were killed and 11 were injured.
UofL hospitals are treating two people in critical condition and eight with non-life-threatening injuries.

Governor Andy Beshear warned that the death toll is likely to increase and confirmed that two employees from a nearby auto store remain unaccounted for. Mayor Craig Greenberg clarified that the first four confirmed fatalities were individuals who were not on the plane.

The Cause of the Massive Fire and Operational Halt

UPS confirmed there were three crewmembers on board the MD-11. Due to the nature of the long-haul flight, the aircraft was fully fueled with approximately 38,000 gallons of jet fuel, which caused the fire to erupt and easily spread to adjacent facilities, including a large recycling center.

By 11 p.m. Tuesday night, the fires were extinguished. Fire officials are conducting a door-to-door search in the immediate area to account for all residents, while more than a dozen emergency entities continue to sweep the scene.

The immediate consequences include the closure of the SDF airfield and the temporary suspension of screening at the TSA security checkpoint. UPS Worldport was also forced to halt operations; the Next Day Air sort was canceled, and employees were asked not to report to work Tuesday night.

Concerns Over Hazardous Materials and Infrastructure

Despite Governor Beshear’s assurance that no hazardous materials were transported on the plane, local officials indicated they still had to deal with hazardous materials at the businesses affected by the massive fire.

For safety reasons, the utility company LG&E de-energized power lines into a nearby station, interrupting service for about 290 customers, and isolated a portion of its gas system, impacting more than 90 customers. These numbers may change depending on the progress of the emergency response teams.

UPS has entrusted the full investigation to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which will serve as the official source of information. Passengers scheduled to fly through SDF on Tuesday or Wednesday are advised to closely monitor their flight status.