Terrifying new video footage captures the moment when a UPS plane’s wing caught fire just before the aircraft crashed and exploded in a devastating fireball. The UPS plane, carrying 38,000 gallons of fuel, erupted into flames shortly after departing from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky. The tragic incident resulted in nine confirmed fatalities, including four individuals not on board, with 11 others sustaining injuries, two of whom are in critical condition.
In a gripping video taken during take-off, the left wing of the plane can be seen emitting smoke as it struggles to ascend before crashing moments later, engulfing the area in flames upon impact. Aviation attorney Pablo Rojas analyzed the footage, suggesting that the aircraft, laden with a substantial amount of fuel, faced challenges gaining altitude with a fire near one of its engines, leading to an inevitable explosion or rapid fire spread.
Former Department of Transportation inspector general Mary Schiavo noted that the engine seemed to detach from the aircraft before the final crash and fireball. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched an investigation into the crash involving a McDonnell Douglas MD-11F aircraft.
The plane struck a fuel recycling business adjacent to the airport, causing significant damage, with a car parts business also affected by the wreckage. Firefighters worked tirelessly through the night to contain the fire across a wide area and initiated a thorough search operation for potential victims. The airport remained closed with plans to reopen after several hours.
Louisville Police Chief Paul Humphrey expressed uncertainty about the timeline to secure the crash site, while Fire Chief Brian O’Neill confirmed secondary explosions triggered by the plane hitting fuel tanks at the recycling center. O’Neill mentioned ruptured storage tanks containing propane and oil, leading to small secondary explosions.
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