A UPS cargo plane crashed Tuesday evening near Louisville International Airport in Kentucky, leaving at least three people dead and 11 others injured.
Officials warned that the toll could rise as rescue crews continue their search through the wreckage.
The aircraft, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 headed for Honolulu, went down around 5:15 p.m. local time, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. There were three crew members on board at the time of the crash.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said during a Tuesday press conference that more casualties are expected as emergency responders sift through the debris.
The crash occurred near two local businesses – a recycling center that took a direct hit, and an auto parts store where only two workers remain unaccounted for.
Television footage captured the terrifying moment as it happened: the plane taking off with flames trailing from one wing before a massive fireball erupted on impact. Several nearby buildings were set ablaze, and thick columns of black smoke could be seen rising across the city.
In response to the incident, Louisville International Airport announced that all Tuesday departures have been cancelled.
The route to Honolulu normally takes about eight and a half hours.
The tracking data also revealed that the plane climbed to roughly 175 feet and reached 184 knots before suddenly dropping altitude.
A UPS spokesperson said the National Transportation Safety Board will take the lead in investigating what caused the deadly crash.
In a post on X, Governor Andy Beshear called the crash a “serious situation” and said he was heading to Louisville.
At the press conference, Beshear noted that “virtually every fire, police, and emergency response team” in the area was assisting at the scene.
The order was later expanded to cover all areas north of the airport up to the Ohio River.
Destyn Mitchell, who was working at an Outback Steakhouse about 15 minutes from the crash site, said she heard a loud explosion that startled everyone inside.
Around 20 people were dining at the time, and she described the atmosphere inside as “really shaken.” Many customers who had just been seated decided to leave within half an hour, saying they wanted to get home.
Tom Brooks Jr., who runs a metal recycling business just down the road from where the plane went down, said the impact was so strong it shook the entire area.
