The sky over Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport held a terrifying spectacle Tuesday evening as UPS Flight 2976 crashed moments after takeoff, erupting in a colossal fireball. The impact sent shockwaves through the surrounding industrial area, instantly claiming lives and igniting a desperate search for survivors.
Among those missing is Angela Anderson, a 45-year-old mother who ventured to a nearby salvage yard just as the disaster unfolded. Her boyfriend, Donald Henderson, recounts a heartbreaking twist of fate – he had planned to accompany her, but exhaustion from work kept him home. Now, he’s left with the agonizing uncertainty of her whereabouts.
A trucker’s dashcam captured the horrifying moment of impact, the footage revealing a plane engulfed in flames plummeting towards the ground. The aircraft, carrying nearly 300,000 gallons of fuel, exploded upon impact, creating a blast radius that extended to neighboring businesses.
The crash triggered a chain reaction of smaller explosions at Kentucky Petroleum Recycling and Grade A Auto Parts, a salvage yard where a child tragically lost their life alongside a parent. Witnesses described the scene as chaotic and terrifying, initially fearing an attack.
Summer Dickerson, who works nearby, recalled the initial confusion and fear. “I didn’t know if we were getting attacked. I didn’t know what was going on,” she said, painting a picture of widespread panic. The sheer force of the blasts shook buildings and sent debris flying.
At Stooges Bar and Grill, the sudden flickering of lights preceded the sight of a flaming plane descending over the volleyball courts. Bartender Kyla Kenady instinctively screamed a warning, urging patrons to flee as the aircraft crashed nearby. The building shuddered under the impact of three successive explosions.
Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board have determined a large fire developed in the plane’s left wing shortly after being cleared for takeoff. Despite gaining altitude, the aircraft ultimately crashed just beyond the runway fence, sealing its fate.
As of Wednesday evening, the confirmed death toll stands at twelve, with authorities bracing for a grim increase. Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg urged residents to cherish their loved ones and check on their neighbors, acknowledging the profound loss felt throughout the community.
The governor expressed a somber outlook, stating that while authorities continue to search for a small number of missing individuals, the likelihood of finding anyone alive is diminishing. The painstaking process of sifting through debris will take considerable time, a testament to the scale of the devastation.
University of Louisville Hospital is treating two individuals in critical condition in the burn unit, while eighteen others have been treated and released. The community is left reeling, grappling with the aftermath of a tragedy that has forever altered the landscape and lives of those affected.
