A few hours ago, a cargo plane belonging to UPS, a McDonnell-Douglas MD-11 model, crashed shortly after taking off from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky, en route to Honolulu. The accident occurred around 5:13 p.m. local time, when one of the engines reportedly detached during takeoff, causing the aircraft to lose control and crash into an industrial complex, triggering a massive explosion.
Preliminary reports indicate at least nine fatalities, including the three crew members on board, and eleven others hospitalized. Authorities have warned that the death toll could rise as rescue and investigation efforts continue.
The incident also impacts a critical part of UPS’s global logistics chain: its air operations hub in Louisville, which handles hundreds of thousands of packages daily.
Could this accident disrupt UPS’s global delivery network?
Yes, significant short-term delays are likely. UPS has temporarily suspended part of its operations in Louisville while authorities investigate the incident and assess the damage to its facilities.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation to determine the cause, which could include mechanical failure, maintenance issues, or other factors involving the 34-year-old aircraft.