A UPS cargo plane crashed at Louisville International Airport on Tuesday, triggering a massive explosion, thick smoke, and an extensive fire.
By Wednesday morning, officials confirmed at least 12 fatalities, including a young child and the three crew members on board. Fifteen others were injured, with two in critical condition and 13 already released from UofL Health. Another 16 people remain unaccounted for.
According to the NTSB, the plane’s left wing caught fire during takeoff, and the left engine detached, though the cause is still under investigation.
A state of emergency has been declared. Authorities say the air and water are likely safe, but residents near the airport are urged not to drink tap water as a precaution. The shelter-in-place order has been reduced to a quarter-mile radius around 7501 Grade Lane, the city’s hazardous waste drop-off site.
