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A tragic plane crash near Louisville International Airport on Tuesday has resulted in at least four fatalities, according to law enforcement officials. The crash ignited a significant fire, prompting a swift response from first responders to extinguish the flames.
Authorities informed the press shortly after 9 p.m. EST that the incident had claimed the lives of at least four individuals, while ten others sustained injuries.
At around 9 p.m., Louisville police scaled back the shelter-in-place advisory from a five-mile radius to a one-mile perimeter surrounding the airport. This airport ranks among the world’s busiest cargo hubs and serves as the central base for UPS’s global air freight operations.
Governor Andy Beshear, a Democrat from Kentucky, provided an update before 8 p.m. EST, expressing concern that the numbers of deceased and injured might rise as the investigation and rescue efforts continue.
Governor Beshear mentioned that the fate of the aircraft’s three-member crew remains uncertain.
He also noted that a nearby business, Kentucky Petroleum Recycling, appeared to have suffered a direct impact from the crash, with two employees currently missing.
The governor said a business near the airport, Kentucky Petroleum Recycling, “looks like they were hit pretty directly” and two employees are unaccounted for.
Another business, Grade A Auto Parts, also sustained damage, while the nearby Ford Louisville Assembly Plant was not hit but has lost power, according to Beshear.
The Federal Aviation Administration tweeted that UPS Flight 2976, en route to Honolulu, crashed around 5:15 p.m. EST.
Aerial footage from CBS affiliate WLKY News showed a large area beyond an airport runway seemingly set ablaze by the crash.
Is The Cause Of The Crash Known?
Not as of Tuesday night. Officials said they would not provide information on a cause until the National Transportation Safety Board completes its investigation. Officials added the crash site will remain an active scene for the coming days.
Smoke is scene miles away from the crash site.
Photo by LEANDRO LOZADA/AFP via Getty Images
Smoke continues rising from the crash site hours after the incident occurred.
AP Photo/Jon Cherry
Firefighters put out blazes caused by the crash.
AP Photo/Jon Cherry
Smoke billows from the site of the crash near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport.
Photo by Stephen Cohen/Getty Images
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
