UPS Plane Crashes Near Louisville Airport, Killing at Least 12
At least 12 people died and over a dozen were injured when a UPS plane crashed shortly after takeoff near Louisville International Airport in Kentucky on Tuesday, officials reported.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation and confirmed on Wednesday afternoon that the plane's black boxes, which record flight data, have been recovered.
Rising Death Toll and Missing Persons
The number of fatalities increased multiple times on Wednesday. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear and Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg warned the public that the death count was likely to rise, as several individuals remained unaccounted for.
- At least 14 people were reported missing by Wednesday night, according to the governor's office.
- The plane carried three UPS crew members, but their status had not been confirmed by Wednesday.
Governor Beshear stated during a Wednesday news briefing,
"There are a handful of other people that we're still searching for."
He also mentioned that one of the victims is believed to be a young child and added,
"We do not expect to find anyone else alive."
State of Emergency and Victim Identification
Beshear declared a state of emergency in response to the crash on Wednesday. Officials said by afternoon none of the victims had been identified yet.
Mayor Greenberg noted that the Jefferson County Coroner was on site to begin victim identification.
Summary
This tragic UPS plane crash near Louisville has resulted in a growing death toll, with ongoing search efforts and an official investigation underway.