New video emerged showing the moment a UPS cargo plane crashed in Louisville, Kentucky, this week, erupting into a massive fireball that killed at least 12 people, including three pilots onboard.
The video, posted on Facebook on Wednesday, appears to show the plane on fire just before it crashed into a series of buildings just south of the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on Tuesday, destroying the surrounding area. Satellite images of the crash site show a large field of debris that extends more than a half-mile.
Officials said Wednesday that the plane’s left engine caught fire and immediately detached upon takeoff.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said Wednesday that a young child is believed to be among the dead. He said that the number of fatalities could rise, and « there are a handful of other people that we’re still searching for. »
UPS Flight 2976, which was heading for Honolulu, had three crew members on board, officials said. The plane had around 38,000 gallons of fuel on board, according to officials.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash, looking at the maintenance history of the plane, with help from FBI forensic investigators. The FBI’s involvement is standard procedure and does not suggest that authorities suspect terrorism.
NTSB member Todd Inman said at a press conference Wednesday that officials recovered the plane’s black boxes — which contain cockpit voice and flight data recorders — and sent them to Washington for analysis. He suggested that the black boxes appeared to be in good condition.
UPS CEO Carol Tomé said in a message to employees that « our hearts continue to be with all who have been impacted.”
“I am incredibly grateful to our team in Louisville for their grace and professionalism,” Tomé said in the message, shared on X by UPS. “We are not alone in this moment and from the notes I’ve received from around the world, I know that solidarity and empathy are powerful forces in healing. United, we are strong. »
UPS is the largest employer in Louisville, with more than 25,000 of its employees based in the metropolitan area. The company calls the Louisville International Airport “the centerpiece of the company’s global air network,” with roughly 400 of its flights arriving and departing each day, according to its website.
Tom Costello contributed.
