Copyright Augusta Free Press
A cargo plane crash at the main distribution hub for UPS in the United States has killed at least nine people and injured 11, according to authorities. The plane, loaded with fuel for a flight to Honolulu, crashed on takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky yesterday at 5:15 p.m. Three crew members were on board the plane. Sixteen people are still missing. Due to the large debris field, it may take some time to recover the bodies of additional victims. The resulting inferno and debris field impacted several local businesses including a petroleum recycling business and an auto salvage yard. There were no damages to a Ford factory or convention center located near the airport, according to Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear. Residents have also been advised not to drink tap water until further notice. The package sorting facility closed after the crash. The airport opened its runway Wednesday morning allowing UPS flights to resume. Scheduled delivery times for air and international packages may be affected, according to a statement from UPS. United Parcel Service said the accident will lead to some temporary supply chain issues, but they should be resolved ahead of the holiday rush. “Contingency plans are in place to help ensure that shipments arrive at their final destinations as quickly as conditions permit.” Consumers whose packages were potentially impacted by the crash should be able to find tracking information online. The UPS facility handles 300 flights daily and has the ability to sort more than 400,000 packages an hour. The plane had recently undergone significant maintenance, a former federal crash investigator told the Associated Press.
