Plane explodes after takeoff in the US, leaving at least seven dead.

247 - A UPS cargo plane crashed Tuesday afternoon (4) shortly after taking off from Muhammad Ali International Airport in Louisville, Kentucky, causing an explosion that killed at least seven people — including the three crew members and four local residents. The accident also left 11 injured, who were taken to local hospitals, according to authorities.

According to Reuters, the flames spread rapidly after the impact, reaching an industrial corridor near the airport and forcing the suspension of all air operations until Wednesday morning (5). The aircraft, an MD-11 model, was heading to Honolulu, Hawaii, on a cargo flight scheduled to last eight and a half hours.

Fires and rescue

The flames engulfed several industrial buildings, including an oil recycling center and an auto parts company. It took hours to control the fire, and firefighters established a five-mile (8 km) isolation zone around the area, later reduced to a 1,6 km radius due to the risk of air contamination.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg confirmed the four deaths on the ground and lamented the impact of the tragedy on the community. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear stated that the number of victims could rise, as some survivors suffered "very serious" injuries.

Engine failure and investigation

The plane had taken off at around 17:15 PM (local time) and, according to data from the Flightradar24 website, reached only 175 feet of altitude before losing lift and crashing. A video shown by the WLKY channel shows fire on one of the wings during takeoff and the explosion upon impact with the ground.

Experts are already analyzing images that indicate one of the three engines may have detached before impact. Pilot and aviation safety expert John Cox stated that the failure is unusual. "It's too much fire for a typical engine fire," he said. "This plane should be able to fly with two engines, so we need to find out why this didn't happen."

Old aircraft and UPS history

Records from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) show that the cargo plane involved in the accident was 34 years old. Manufactured by McDonnell Douglas, the MD-11 model ceased production after its merger with Boeing, which has stated it is providing technical support to the investigation.

This is the first serious accident involving a UPS plane since 2013, when an Airbus crashed during landing in Birmingham, Alabama, killing both crew members. The company, in a statement, said it was "deeply shaken" by the incident and assured that contingency plans are being implemented to minimize delivery delays.

Economic and emotional impact

Louisville Airport is home to Worldport, UPS's main air sorting center and the largest in the world, responsible for processing approximately 2 million packages per day and employing 26 people.

Councilwoman Betsy Ruhe, who represents the district where the accident occurred, highlighted the emotional impact on the local population. “My heart goes out to everyone at UPS, because Louisville is a UPS city,” she stated. “Everyone knows someone who works there, and there are entire families trying to find out if their loved ones are okay.”

The investigation into the causes of the disaster will be conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which is expected to take up to two years to complete the final report and issue safety recommendations. Meanwhile, teams remain at the site searching for wreckage and evidence that may clarify why the plane was unable to maintain flight after the fire.