The UPS Boeing MD-11 Freighter involved in the 4 November crash near Louisville came down on a building operated by a petroleum services company, causing a massive fire and injuring many people on the ground.
“We believe we have at least three fatalities. I believe that number is going to get larger,” says Kentucky governor Andy Beshear. “We have at least 11 injuries. I think that that number will get larger.”
The aircraft, carrying three crew, was operating flight 2976 from UPS’s hub at Louisville to Honolulu. It crashed shortly after taking off, at about 17:11 local time.
The aircraft was not carrying hazardous materials but the crash itself might have created environmental hazards, says the governor. Following the incident, officials established a “shelter-in-place” order applicable to people nearby.
“We believe the main area hit [by the aircraft] consisted of two businesses, but more [may have been] impacted,” Beshear says. “Anyone who has seen the images or the video know how violent this crash [was].”
One of the businesses struck is Kentucky Petroleum Recycling. “It looks like they were hit pretty directly,” Beshear says.
The other business known to have been hit was Grade A Auto Parts. That company had not accounted for two employees, Beshear adds. “It may be some time before we can account for everyone… There are a lot of families that are going to be waiting and wondering for a long period of time.”
Both businesses are immediately south of the end of Louisville International airport’s runway 17, from which the jet took off, according to flight-tracking websites.
Several images and video posted on social media purportedly show the aircraft prior to and during the crash. Some videos reportedly show the jet taking off with its left-side wing engulfed in flames.
Beshear says numerous local fire departments deployed crews to the scene. The airport remains closed.
The US National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are investigating, the FAA says.
