At least three killed after UPS plane crashes in Kentucky, erupts into ball of fire

Reuters - At least three people were killed and 11 injured after a UPS (UPS.N), opens new tab wide-body cargo plane crashed in Louisville, Kentucky, erupting into a massive fireball shortly after takeoff, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said on Tuesday.

Beshear said some people suffered "very significant" injuries and that he expected the number of casualties to grow as emergency personnel extinguish fires still burning near the airport.

The triple-engine plane was fueled for an 8-1/2 hour flight to Honolulu. It had three crew members on board, according to UPS. Federal officials said all were feared dead.

Television channel WLKY, a CBS affiliate, showed video of the crash as it occurred. Fire on one wing was visible in the video as the plane took off, and a huge fireball erupted as it hit the ground. Several buildings in an industrial area beyond the runway were on fire after the crash, with thick black smoke rising into the evening sky.

"UPS Flight 2976 crashed around 5:15 p.m. local time on Tuesday, Nov. 4, after departing from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky," the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement.

One key question investigators will look at is whether the engine separated before the crash, a person briefed on the matter said, noting video reports of debris on the airfield.

U.S. air safety expert and pilot John Cox said investigators will need to look at why the plane with three engines failed to fly after the first one was erupted in flames.

“It’s too big a fire for a normal, typical engine fire,” Cox said. “It’s much too big.”

“That airplane should have flown on two engines. So now we’ve got to look at what caused it not to fly.”

Fires were still burning near the airport, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said in a social media post shortly before 7 p.m. ET (0000 GMT).

Officials issued a shelter-in-place order for all locations within five miles (8 km) of the airport.

FAA records show the plane involved in the crash, an MD-11 freighter, was 34 years old. Boeing (BA.N), opens new tab, which shut down the MD-11 program after acquiring it in its merger with McDonnell Douglas, said it was concerned for the safety and well-being of all those affected, and it would provide technical support to the investigation.