UPS Plane Crashes Near Louisville Airport
At least 12 people died and more than a dozen others were injured when a UPS plane crashed shortly after takeoff near Louisville International Airport in Kentucky on Tuesday, officials reported.
Ongoing Investigation and Recovery Efforts
The National Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation and confirmed on Wednesday afternoon that they recovered the plane's black boxes, which record flight data.
Rising Death Toll and Missing Persons
The number of fatalities increased several times on Wednesday. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear and Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg warned the toll could rise further, as several people remained unaccounted for. By Wednesday night, the governor's office stated that at least 14 individuals were still missing.
"There are a handful of other people that we're still searching for," Governor Beshear said during a news briefing.
The governor also mentioned it is believed that one of the victims is a young child and added,
"We do not expect to find anyone else alive."
Casualties and Identification
The aircraft carried three UPS crew members, but officials had not confirmed whether they were among the deceased as of Wednesday. None of the victims have been identified yet. Mayor Greenberg stated that the Jefferson County Coroner is present at the crash site to handle identifications.
State Response
Governor Beshear declared a state of emergency on Wednesday in response to the crash.
Summary
The UPS plane crash near Louisville has caused multiple fatalities and injuries, with investigations underway and many victims still unaccounted for amid ongoing search efforts.