Engine failure blamed as 12 die in a US cargo plane crash

Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed that the left engine ignited and detached from the wing during takeoff, causing the aircraft to lose control and crash into nearby businesses, resulting in multiple fatalities on the ground.

Tragic accident near Louisville airport

The UPS-operated flight en route to Hawaii took off from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport around 5:15 p.m. local time (2215 GMT) before crashing into a commercial area near the airport. The plane caught fire, igniting nearby structures and leaving a debris trail nearly 800 metres long.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg confirmed the updated death toll, saying, “I’m deeply saddened to share that the death toll has risen to 12, with several individuals still unaccounted for.”

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear described the crash as “heartbreaking” and “unimaginable,” expressing condolences to the victims’ families. He noted that the disaster could have been even worse, as the aircraft narrowly missed a major Ford vehicle assembly plant employing around 3,000 workers.

NTSB investigation and early findings

The NTSB dispatched a team of investigators to Louisville early on Wednesday. Todd Inman, an NTSB member, stated that airport surveillance footage showed the left engine detaching during the takeoff run. He confirmed that both the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder—known as the aircraft’s black boxes—had been recovered and would be sent to Washington, D.C., for detailed analysis.

Although the crash destroyed several buildings, investigators stated that the detached engine remained on the airfield, providing crucial evidence for the inquiry. The aircraft was carrying about 38,000 gallons of jet fuel, which intensified the fire and made firefighting efforts more challenging.

UPS has suspended package sorting at its Worldport hub in Louisville, its main U.S. air distribution centre, which employs thousands of staff.

Aviation safety concerns amid government shutdown

The tragedy occurred during the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, which has disrupted many federal operations. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned earlier this week of “mass chaos” in aviation caused by a shortage of air traffic control staff, although the NTSB said there was no immediate evidence of staffing problems at Louisville Airport during the crash.

The aircraft, built in 1991 and later modified for cargo operations, was initially manufactured by McDonnell Douglas, which merged with Boeing in 1996. Boeing released a statement offering condolences and providing technical support to the NTSB investigation.

This incident marks the deadliest crash in UPS history and follows a January 2025 accident where an American Eagle airliner collided with a military helicopter near Washington, D.C., killing 67 people, ending the U.S.’s 16-year streak without fatal commercial air disasters.