Cargo plane crash also hits industrial area – seven dead

In Louisville, Kentucky, a UPS cargo plane crashed shortly after takeoff on a flight to Honolulu. Seven people were killed in the accident, including all three people on board and four people on the ground. Eleven others were injured.

The incident occurred on Tuesday evening and sparked a series of fires in an industrial area near the airport, which houses UPS's global logistics center. Flight operations were immediately suspended, which is expected to affect the delivery of packages, including shipments for Amazon and the US Postal Service.

The accident involved a 34-year-old three-engine MD-11 aircraft. Witnesses reported seeing flames on one of the wings shortly after takeoff. Investigators are currently looking into the possibility that one of the engines detached. Boeing has pledged technical support.

The flight only reached an altitude of 175 feet before it abruptly lost altitude and crashed. UPS immediately initiated emergency measures, but has not yet provided any information on possible losses among the shipments being transported.

The investigation is being led by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and initial findings could take up to a year.

(reuters, max)