UPS MD-11F crashes in Louisville, multiple fatalities
The aircraft MD-11F was 34.4 years old, the NTSB has launched a go-team to investigate the crash.;
N259UP, the aircraft involved in the accident
A UPS Airlines flight, flight 2976, an MD-11F, a scheduled service from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Louisville, Kentucky, United States, to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, Hawaii, crashed shortly after takeoff.
Although exact numbers of fatalities and injuries are not yet available, Reuters has reported that at least seven people have died, including all three crew members and four people on the ground, while eleven others have been injured.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said that it has launched a go-team to investigate the crash.
The aircraft was an MD-11F, registered as N259UP (MSN 48417). It was formerly operated by Thai Airways before being converted into a freighter in April 2007. At the time of the crash, the aircraft was 34.4 years old.
Flightradar24 reported that the aircraft that crashed in Louisville had been on the ground in San Antonio from September 3 to October 18, suggesting that it underwent maintenance during that period.
Based on initial visual evidence from the scene, the aircraft suffered a catastrophic mechanical failure just before becoming airborne from Runway 17R at approximately 22:13 UTC (17:13 local time), Flightradar24 reported.
The aircraft crashed just outside the airport perimeter, causing a massive fire that engulfed multiple structures and cut power to an area south of the airport.
UPS Flight 2976 began its takeoff roll on Runway 17R at approximately 22:12:24 UTC. The highest reported ground speed during the flight was 186 knots.
The MD-11F consumes approximately 7,500 kg of fuel per hour. Including reserve fuel, a flight from Louisville to Honolulu would require roughly 75 tonnes of fuel in total.
UPS said in its media release, “We are terribly saddened by the accident tonight in Louisville. Our heartfelt thoughts are with everyone involved. UPS is committed to the safety of our employees, our customers and the communities we serve. This is particularly true in Louisville, home to our airline and thousands of UPSers.
We are engaged with the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation of the accident and are staying in close contact with the Federal Aviation Administration. We will work tirelessly with state and local authorities on response efforts. As a result of the accident, we are halting package sorting operations tonight at Worldport.”
It also stated that more information will be released as it becomes available, but the NTSB is leading the investigation and will be the main source of official updates.
Boeing, in its statement, said “We are following the news out of Louisville regarding UPS Flight 2976. Our concern is for the safety and well-being of all those affected. We stand ready to support our customer and have offered technical assistance to the NTSB.”