LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A UPS cargo plane was barely airborne at the moment the cockpit alarm sounded. For approximately 25 seconds, the pilots wrestled with the aircraft, which was ablaze on its left wing and missing an engine. The plane crashed shortly after takeoff in a massive fireball, leading to the tragic loss of 14 lives, including the three pilots.
The incident occurred Tuesday at UPS Worldport, the company’s global aviation hub in Louisville, Kentucky. National Transportation Safety Board member Todd Inman revealed that the cockpit voice recorder captured the alarm ringing shortly after the crew initiated takeoff. Although the specifics of the alarm have yet to be determined, preliminary investigations indicate an engine fire preceded the accident.
Investigators are currently examining dramatic videos captured by witnesses that show the plane's devastating crash into nearby businesses, contributing to the inquiry into this tragic event. Initial assessments reported that the aircraft reached an altitude of about 100 feet before crashing down, contrary to earlier estimates suggesting it reached 475 feet, with a speed of 210 mph at the time of the accident.
Legal Actions and Continued Investigations
As investigations unfold, a federal lawsuit has already been filed against UPS by a local automotive shop, which suffered destruction during the incident, coupled with a claim from a nearby resident affected by smoke inhalation. The lawsuit cites negligence against multiple parties, including UPS and the aircraft’s manufacturers.
UPS has resumed operations at the Worldport hub, which handles a vast number of packages and flights daily. The circumstances surrounding the plane’s last moments remain under scrutiny, as the NTSB works to piece together what may have gone wrong during this fateful flight.
