A major tragedy struck Louisville, Kentucky, on Tuesday evening when a UPS cargo aircraft crashed during takeoff at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport. The crash led to a massive fire, killed at least seven people, and caused serious damage to nearby buildings and businesses. Officials fear that the death toll may go up as search and rescue work continues through the night.
The aircraft, identified as Flight 2976 and bound for Hawaii, went down at around 5:15 PM local time. According to authorities, the plane was carrying nearly 38,000 gallons of fuel. The impact triggered a huge explosion and flames spread quickly across the crash area and into nearby commercial properties. Thick smoke was seen rising across the city skyline for hours.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg confirmed that seven deaths have been reported so far. He said four of those who died were on the ground, while three UPS crew members who were on board are still unaccounted for and are feared dead. “We expect the number to rise,” the mayor said, adding that the city is working closely with federal agencies to handle the situation. 
At least 11 people are currently being treated in hospitals with injuries. Emergency services have warned residents not to go to hospitals in search of missing loved ones, as it could overwhelm the facilities. Instead, families have been asked to visit a reunification centre set up at the Louisville Metro Police training academy. Officials stressed that families will receive support from UPS and federal agencies as per disaster assistance rules.
More than 100 firefighters and emergency personnel rushed to the scene. Louisville Fire Chief Brian O’Neill said that the fire is now mostly contained, but teams are still working to put out hot spots and locate any remaining victims. Authorities have urged residents in the area not to touch any debris and to report anything suspicious to the authorities.
In the initial hours after the crash, people living near the airport were told to stay indoors due to smoke and possible contamination from burning fuel. Later, the shelter advisory was reduced to a one-mile radius around the crash site.
The airport closed all operations temporarily, but one runway has since reopened. Departing flights remain cancelled and delays are expected for several hours. UPS has also halted operations at its Worldport sorting hub near the airport, one of the company’s biggest logistics centres in the world. “We are terribly saddened by the accident,” UPS said in a statement, adding that it is cooperating with investigators.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear called the incident heartbreaking and confirmed that both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will investigate the crash. The NTSB has announced that a special “go-team” will arrive in Louisville on Wednesday to study the site and determine the cause.
