At least 12 people have died and more than a dozen are injured after a UPS cargo plane crashed while taking off from an airport in Louisville, Kentucky, on Tuesday evening.
Aviation experts believe the plane crashed after one engine failed, while another appeared damaged during take-off. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the crash, having recovered critical evidence including the cockpit and flight data recorders. Eyewitness footage captured the moment the left engine detached from the wing, resulting in a fire that quickly engulfed the aircraft.
The MD-11 jet was on the brink of a long-haul flight to Honolulu, carrying an estimated 38,000 gallons of fuel, which likely intensified the explosion and led to significant damage on the ground, affecting nearby buildings.
Data indicates that the plane reached a speed of 214 mph before a series of catastrophic events unfolded, casting a shadow over Louisville and prompting urgent emergency responses from firefighters and officials.
While investigators analyze air traffic communications and footage of the incident, the focus will remain on understanding the technical failures that precipitated this tragedy, weighing potential mechanical issues against the backdrop of previous aviation accidents.
