A catastrophic incident unfolded as a plane’s left wing ignited in flames and the engine detached just before the aircraft crashed and burst into flames on Tuesday. The early findings of the investigation into the tragedy have been disclosed, revealing the mourning of the victims, including a child, by the United States. Authorities in Louisville, Kentucky, have received reports from at least 16 families concerning missing loved ones.
According to Todd Inman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), a significant fire erupted in the left wing after the plane was granted clearance for takeoff. The NTSB is spearheading the inquiry to determine the cause of the fire and the engine detachment, a process expected to extend over a year.
Although the aircraft managed to ascend sufficiently to clear the runway fence, it tragically crashed just outside Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport. Security footage from the airport captured the moment the left engine separated during takeoff. Both the cockpit voice recorder and data recorder were retrieved, and the engine was located on the airfield.
Debris from the plane, scattered over a half-mile area, indicates a low likelihood of finding survivors amidst the wreckage. An aviation attorney noted that the aircraft, over 30 years old and carrying 38,000 gallons of fuel, was engulfed in flames, resembling a bomb due to the vast fuel quantity.
The crash temporarily halted operations at UPS Worldport, the company’s global aviation center at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, causing disruptions in the supply chain and potential shipping delays. While UPS did not disclose the specifics of the cargo aboard the plane, the company anticipates clearing the backlog before the busy Christmas season.
Professor Tom Goldsby from the University of Tennessee emphasized the urgency of resolving the crisis while ensuring thorough investigations are conducted.