JET DISASTER 

Cargo plane crashed & exploded into fireball during takeoff after engine FELL OFF, investigators say as death toll rises

The plane exploded in flames and hit industrial buildings, causing a half-mile-long blaze

A UPS cargo jet that crashed and killed 12 people in Kentucky did so after one of its engines fell during takeoff, federal investigators confirmed.

Airport security footage seen by officials showed the left engine detaching from the wing of the 34-year-old McDonnell Douglas MD-11 as it sped down the runway.

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NTSB officials revealed the UPS jet’s engine fell during takeoff
 

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CCTV from inside the industrial park shows the plane twisted left and skidded downCredit: X/@FrozoneFlores
 

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Moments after the plane crashedCredit: AFP
Moments after taking off from Louisville’s Muhammad Ali International Airport on Tuesday evening, the jet exploded in flames and slammed into nearby industrial buildings.

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) official Todd Inman said at a briefing: “We have viewed airport CCTV security coverage, which shows the left engine detaching from the wing during the takeoff roll.

“After being cleared for takeoff, a large plume of fire in the area of the left wing occurred during the takeoff roll.”

The plane, bound for Honolulu, managed to lift briefly before crashing beyond the airport fence, striking Kentucky Petroleum Recycling and Grade A Autoparts.

A fireball lit up the night sky, triggering a half-mile-long blaze through the industrial corridor.

Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency Wednesday morning to rush resources to the scene.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg confirmed the death toll had risen to 12 – including the three UPS crew members, several workers on the ground, and a child.

Greenberg wrote on X: “I’m deeply saddened to share that the death toll has risen to 12, with several individuals still unaccounted for.”

Another 11 people were injured in the horror crash.

More than 200 firefighters battled the inferno that shut down the airport overnight and disrupted UPS’s Worldport operations, the company’s global air-cargo hub.

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The NTSB said the aircraft’s black boxes were recovered Wednesday and appeared intact despite exposure to extreme heat.

Investigators have formed specialized teams to examine the engines, flight controls, maintenance records, and wreckage patterns.

The cause of the engine detachment remains unclear.

Officials said it was too early to determine whether a mechanical failure or external factor was responsible.

The FBI is assisting the probe “under a longstanding Interagency agreement,” though investigators have not indicated any criminal suspicion.

Federal Aviation Administration records show the MD-11 freighter had been in service for nearly 35 years and underwent a fuel tank repair in September.

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A huge fireball could be seen from the roadCredit: X/@FaytuksNetwork
 

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Aerial footage shows the aftermath of the crashCredit: WLKY-TV
 

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Fire crews desperately douse the burning industrial site from all sidesCredit: WLKY-TV
There were no known airworthiness directives tied to the aircraft or its engines.

Independent Pilots Association President Captain Bob Travis confirmed all three pilots were on duty at the time.

UPS, Boeing, and GE Aerospace have all pledged support to the federal investigation.

Operations resumed at the airport Wednesday, though the runway where the crash occurred is expected to remain closed for about 10 days.

The NTSB is expected to release a preliminary report within 30 days, but the full investigation could take up to two years.

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The plane that crashed was a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 operated by UPSCredit: Alamy
 

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Heavy black smoke rises from the fires in an industrial areaCredit: Reuters
 

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Fire crews battling the blaze with extended laddersCredit: AP