Authorities have recovered the black box from the UPS cargo plane that crashed and exploded into a massive fireball while taking off from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on Tuesday.
The discovery comes after at least nine people were confirmed to have died in the crash, including three crew members from the cargo plane. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, who described the crash as “catastrophic,” warned the number of fatalities would likely increase by at least one as their search and rescue mission turns into a recovery effort.
Earlier Wednesday, the governor declared a state of emergency “to move resources more quickly through emergency management and the Kentucky National Guard.”
“I’ve taken action to establish the Team Kentucky Emergency Relief Fund to help those affected” in Tuesday’s deadly plane crash, Beshear said, later adding, “Remember, the first thing that we pay for out of these funds are funerals, so that in a time of grief …we support one another.”
There were 16 families at the reunification center at Louisville Metro Police Department Training Academy on Tuesday night whose loved ones remained unaccounted for. It was not immediately clear on Wednesday how many people remained missing, but local reports put the number at 16.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg warned recovery efforts may “take a while” as the site spans a “very large area.” A team of 28 National Transportation Safety Board members are on the ground investigating the cause of the crash, officials confirmed.
More than 200 first responders arrived at the scene on Tuesday night before the airport’s reopening the following morning.
The Honolulu-bound UPS MD-11 aircraft crashed around 5:15 p.m. local time shortly after the plane departed the airport, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
The plane’s left wing caught fire and its engine fell off just before it crashed and exploded after takeoff, Inman, with the NTSB, said Wednesday.
Eleven people were injured, including two who had “very significant injuries,” according to the governor.
When asked if any staffing shortages due to the ongoing government shutdown could be tied to the crash, Inman said he didn't think that was the case, noting the Standiford Tower, or FAA control tower, was at its "proper compliment" at the time of the incident.
University of Louisville Hospital said two people were in critical condition in the burn unit early Wednesday and that 13 others had been treated and discharged. Norton Hospital said it had released three people.
A shelter-in-place order for a quarter-mile radius surrounding the crash site was in effect Wednesday, causing Jefferson County Public Schools, the state’s largest school district, to shut down for the day. Officials were monitoring the air quality and water within that immediate area.
Footage showed flames erupting from the plane’s left wing and a trail of smoke. Other clips captured the plane crashing and exploding into a massive fireball.
UPS’s largest package handling facility is in Louisville and the company said Tuesday night that it had stopped package sorting at the center. The company did not say when it would resume.
“We all know somebody who works at UPS,” Louisville Metro Council member Betsy Ruhe said. “And they’re all texting their friends, their family, trying to make sure everyone is safe. Sadly, some of those texts are probably going to go unanswered.”
Aerial video of the crash site shared by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy showed a fire and an industrial-looking building with damage to its roof.
The plane was carrying about 38,000 pounds of fuel at the time of the crash, according to state officials. The cargo jet did not have any specifically hazardous materials onboard.
The jet reached an altitude of about 175 feet and then began to fall sharply, according to flight data tracker Flightradar24.
The crash damaged at least two businesses, including Kentucky Petroleum Recycling, which Beshear said was hit “directly,” and Grade A Auto Parts.
Employees of both businesses have been accounted for, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said Tuesday.
A nearby Ford plant was not impacted, Beshear said, calling the news a “blessing,” given the number of employees inside at the time.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash.
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators arrived at the scene Wednesday. Boeing has offered to work with NTSB on its investigation into the crash.
“Our concern is for the safety and well-being of all those affected. We stand ready to support our customer and have offered technical assistance to the NTSB,” Boeing said.
Members of the public should report any debris they find from the crash to officials and avoid touching it, first responders said.
Duffy called the crash “heartbreaking” in a post on social media.
“Please join me in prayer for the Louisville community and flight crew impacted by this horrific crash,” he wrote on X.
The crash comes at a time of intense strain on the U.S. air transit system during the ongoing government shutdown.
Air traffic controllers have been forced to work without pay, and staffing shortages have caused delays at airports around the country.
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