9 Killed as UPS cargo plane crashes, explodes in Louisville

A UPS cargo plane bound for Honolulu crashed shortly after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on Tuesday, erupting into flames and killing at least nine people, officials said.

The McDonnell Douglas MD-11 went down around 5:15 p.m., narrowly missing nearby businesses and a Ford plant before exploding near the runway. Governor Andy Beshear said the crash “could have been much worse,” noting that several buildings were damaged.

Hospitals reported two people in critical condition and more than a dozen treated and released. The NTSB has launched an investigation into the cause.

UPS suspended operations at its Louisville Worldport hub, which handles 300 flights daily, as recovery efforts continued.