A chilling new perspective of Tuesday’s UPS cargo plane crash in Kentucky has emerged, revealing the terrifying speed with which disaster unfolded. CCTV footage from a local business captured the moment the massive aircraft plummeted from the sky, instantly transforming into a raging fireball.
The video, recorded by Kentucky Truck Parts & Service, shows UPS Flight 2976 appearing in the upper right corner of the frame before its catastrophic descent. The impact was so violent it visibly shook the camera, accompanied by a deafening boom that reverberated through the area.
The crash occurred shortly before nightfall, just after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport. Flames quickly spread, igniting multiple fires across the industrial landscape bordering the airfield, forcing a complete halt to all flight operations.
The tragedy claimed seven lives – the three crew members aboard the plane and eleven individuals on the ground who sustained injuries. The scene was one of immediate chaos and devastation, as emergency responders rushed to contain the blaze and provide aid.
The downed aircraft, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11, was en route to Honolulu, carrying a full load of over 200,000 pounds of fuel. The plane itself was 34 years old, according to FAA records.
Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board are now on-site, meticulously gathering evidence to determine the cause of the crash. The investigation promises to be complex, given the scale of the wreckage and the potential for multiple contributing factors.
Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, home to UPS Worldport – the shipping giant’s largest global air cargo hub – resumed limited operations Wednesday morning. However, travelers were warned to anticipate significant delays and potential cancellations as the recovery process continues.
The crash has deeply impacted Louisville, where UPS is the largest employer, providing 26,000 jobs. The community is grappling with the loss and the disruption to a vital economic engine.
