A UPS plane crashed shortly after takeoff from a Louisville, Kentucky, airport, causing several injuries and a large fire that sent a plume of smoke into the sky, officials said Tuesday, Nov. 4.
“UPS Flight 2976 crashed at approximately 5:15 p.m. local time on Tuesday, November 4, after departing from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky,” the FAA said in a statement, adding that the plane was en route to Honolulu.
The Louisville Metro Police Department said at approximately 5:24 p.m. local time multiple agencies were responding to a reported plane crash near Fern Valley Road and Green Lane. The area is located directly south of the airport.
Police said injuries had been reported and urged people to stay away from the area. “This is an active scene with fire and debris. Stay away,” police warned in a statement on Channel X.
Louisville Metro Police spokesman Matthew Sanders told the Courier Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network, that the agency received several calls for service. UPS has confirmed that one of its planes was involved in an accident in Louisville.
A shelter-in-place order has also been issued for areas within five miles of the airport and police said parts of Locust Lane “will be closed indefinitely.” Traffic cameras and footage from local television stations showed a large plume of smoke and a red-orange glow from the flames that burned on the ground due to the accident, which extended for about a mile.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the accident. The FAA said the NTSB will lead the investigation.
Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport is home to UPS Worldport, a global hub for the delivery company’s air cargo operations and the largest package handling facility in the world.
“Kentucky, we are aware of a plane crash reported near Louisville International Airport. First responders are on scene, and we will share more information as it becomes available. Please pray for the pilots, crew and all those affected. We will share more soon,” Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said on Channel X.
Contributing: Reuters
