Post by : Rameen Ariff

A UPS cargo jet crashed shortly after departing Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport around 5:15 p.m., killing seven people and injuring 11. The aircraft, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 built in 1991, had been en route to Honolulu when the accident occurred.

Video shared by eyewitnesses showed flames erupting from the left wing and a plume of smoke as the plane struggled to climb. Seconds later the aircraft exploded in a large fireball near the runway threshold, damaging nearby buildings and tearing the roof off at least one structure.

Officials said four of the fatalities were on the ground; the status and identities of three individuals associated with the aircraft were initially unclear. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear described several injuries as severe and called the scene among the most violent he had seen.

UPS suspended operations at its Worldport sorting hub, the carrier's largest facility, which handles thousands of workers and more than 300 flights a day. The temporary halt interrupted processing lines that routinely handle hundreds of thousands of packages per hour.

Louisville police indicated the airport would remain closed until the crash area is secure. Businesses near the impact site, including a recycling firm and an auto parts shop, reported heavy damage. Multiple witnesses likened the aftermath to a war zone, with explosions and thick black smoke visible for miles.

The National Transportation Safety Board will lead a full investigation. Early observations point to a fire originating near the left engine that may have ignited jet fuel carried onboard, but investigators will need to confirm the cause.

The Louisville community is grappling with shock and grief as authorities continue to support victims and their families. Local leaders and federal investigators are working to piece together events that led to one of the city's most devastating aviation incidents in recent memory.

#Global