How the US cargo plane crashed, why it flew like a bomb

A UPS cargo plane crashed seconds after takeoff from Louisville, Kentucky, killing 12 people. The entire plane was destroyed in the incident on Tuesday (November 4) local time. Debris was also scattered throughout an industrial area near the airport.

Officials confirmed the death toll of 12, but the governor of Kentucky said the death toll could rise. It is reported that the MD-11 cargo plane crashed shortly after takeoff en route to Honolulu, Hawaii. There were three crew members on board.

What happened in Louisville?

UPS Flight 2976 crashed shortly after takeoff from Louisville's Muhammad Ali International Airport at 5:20 pm local time on Tuesday. It climbed to an altitude of just 50 meters (164 feet) before crashing into an industrial area, less than 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) from the airport boundary.

The plane reportedly skidded off the runway and hit several structures near the runway. It was carrying 144,000 gallons of fuel when it crashed.

“There were very few firefighting systems and the plane itself acted like a bomb because of the amount of fuel,” aviation lawyer Pablo Rojas told The Associated Press.

UPS and FedEx still operate several MD-11 cargo jets, the last of which were built in 2000. The older aircraft are being retired as the companies gradually transition to newer, more efficient aircraft.

Where did the UPS flight crash?

Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport is located about 11 kilometers (7 miles) south of downtown Louisville, near the Indiana state line. The airport is surrounded by residential areas and is located just a short distance from several local landmarks.

The plane struck two businesses near the airport - Kentucky Petroleum Recycling and Grade A Auto Parts Auto Salvage Yard. The nearby Ford Motor Assembly Plant, which employs thousands of workers, was not directly hit. However, businesses in the area experienced a temporary power outage. The airport was closed as a result of the accident, but reopened on Wednesday.

How did the plane crash?

According to FlightRadar24, the plane climbed to an altitude of about 53 meters (175 feet) and reached speeds of 184 knots before it suddenly crashed.

Surveillance footage and initial investigations show that the left engine separated from the wing during or shortly after the takeoff roll and caught fire in the left wing section. The engine separation likely contributed to the more severe crash.

The plane overshot the end of the runway fence and crashed into buildings in an industrial area, creating a fireball and debris field about .8 kilometers (.5 miles) wide.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said Wednesday that the engine had been found on the ground at the airport. “We have seen CCTV security coverage of the airport, which shows the left engine separating from the wing during the takeoff roll,” NTSB member Todd Inman said at a news conference.

According to local media reports, the crash caused small explosions at Kentucky Petroleum Recycling. The plane, which began operating with UPS in 2006, flew from Louisville to Baltimore and returned to Louisville on Tuesday, FlightRadar24 reported.

“The cause of the accident was the engine,” former federal accident investigator Jeff Guzzietti told the Associated Press. But efforts are underway to determine whether the problem originated in its structure or in some other part of the plane.

The official added, “The crash could have been caused by the engine partially shutting down and a fuel line being torn. Or it could have been caused by a fuel leak and the engine burning up. That will be known very soon.”

Investigators said they had recovered the plane’s flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder, or black box. The devices will be taken to Washington for analysis.

What is known about the casualties

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear confirmed that 12 people have died so far, but he said 16 families have reported their loved ones missing. Beshear said he did not know the condition of three UPS crew members who were on the cargo plane. It was also unclear whether they were counted among the dead.

Eleven other people were injured in the crash and are being treated in hospitals. However, local officials say the number could rise. "Authorities are still working to find the missing people. However, there is no hope of finding them alive," Beshear said at a news briefing.

Source: Al Jazeera