UPS plane crash investigation: Black boxes recovered, 12 dead including child
New details have surfaced about the deadly UPS plane crash in Louisville. Investigators confirm that at least 12 people have now died, including three crew members and a child.
A cargo plane exploded into a fireball just seconds after takeoff Tuesday night. With 38,000 gallons of fuel on board, it triggered a series of explosions, carving a half-mile path of destruction through a commercial area near the airport.
A local worker who captured the aftermath said the blast was so powerful that it knocked him to the ground.
Investigators said at least eleven others were hurt, many with severe burns and blast injuries.
Investigation into crash
An official cause of the crash has not been revealed. However, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said the left engine detached midair. Investigators found it on the airfield.
Both black boxes have now been recovered and sent to Washington for analysis. CCTV video showed the moment the plane burst into flames, followed by massive clouds of black smoke.
The FBI is now assisting the NTSB on scene as crews search through twisted metal and debris.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has declared a state of emergency as crews move from rescue to recovery mode. Air traffic has resumed in Louisville in a limited capacity, but the airport remains a disaster zone.
The Louisville hub is the company’s largest in the world, sorting more than 400,000 packages an hour.
The plane’s history
According to The Wall Street Journal, the plane that crashed was 34 years old and underwent a critical repair on its fuel tank in September.
The plane was reportedly grounded from Sept. 3 through at least Oct. 18. WSJ looked at FAA maintenance records and found that the jet needed a crack in the fuel tank repaired before it could return to service.
UPS statement
After sharing an initial statement on Tuesday, UPS CEO Carole Tomé sent a message to employees, expressing sympathies and support for those impacted.
The company said it will share more details on the crash as they become available.
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Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
