LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A UPS cargo plane was nearly airborne when a bell sounded in the cockpit. For the next 25 seconds, the bell rang as the pilots struggled to maneuver the aircraft, which was missing an engine and had its left wing engulfed in flames. Tragically, the MD-11 plane crashed into the ground shortly thereafter, producing a dramatic fireball that was captured on video.
The crash occurred at UPS Worldport—the company's global aviation hub in Louisville, Kentucky—resulting in the deaths of 14 individuals, including the three pilots. A member of the National Transportation Safety Board, Todd Inman, stated that the cockpit voice recorder recorded the alarm approximately 37 seconds after the crew initiated the takeoff thrust.
While the specific cause of the bell sound has not yet been determined, it's suspected that it indicated the engine fire on the left wing. Jeff Guzzetti, a former federal crash investigator, highlighted that the flight crew likely faced a critical decision point regarding whether to continue the takeoff or attempt to abort.
Data from the flight indicated that the aircraft barely reached 100 feet above ground before crashing, with a speed of approximately 210 mph at the time of the incident.
As part of the investigation, officials are examining dramatic video footage from multiple perspectives, including mobile devices and security cameras. Additionally, pieces of the detached engine were recovered from the crash site.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, a federal lawsuit was filed against UPS by a local business and a resident affected by the crash. The suit alleges negligence on the part of UPS, as well as the manufacturer of the aircraft.
UPS operations have since resumed at Worldport, but the impact of the disaster continues to resonate throughout the community.
