{"id":6446,"date":"2026-02-20T13:23:10","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T13:23:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/todaynews11.online\/?p=6446"},"modified":"2026-02-20T13:23:10","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T13:23:10","slug":"right-now-plane-with-more-than-244-onboard-just-crash-see-more3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/todaynews11.online\/?p=6446","title":{"rendered":"RIGHT NOW, PLANE WITH MORE THAN 244 ONBOARD JUST CRASH\u2026 See more3"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a class=\"image-link\" href=\"https:\/\/rpnewsdaily.store\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/634343042_842084462201547_6536336839410367071_n-Picsart-AiImageEnhancer.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"attachment-hitmag-featured size-hitmag-featured wp-post-image\" src=\"https:\/\/rpnewsdaily.store\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/634343042_842084462201547_6536336839410367071_n-Picsart-AiImageEnhancer-735x400.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"735\" height=\"400\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p data-start=\"363\" data-end=\"738\"><strong data-start=\"363\" data-end=\"389\">Louisville, Kentucky \u2014<\/strong>\u00a0Federal investigators and local authorities are continuing to examine the cause of a\u00a0<strong data-start=\"475\" data-end=\"500\">UPS cargo plane crash<\/strong>\u00a0at\u00a0<strong data-start=\"504\" data-end=\"553\">Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport<\/strong>, which left at least\u00a0<strong data-start=\"575\" data-end=\"603\">14 people confirmed dead<\/strong>\u00a0and several others injured. Officials have moved from rescue to recovery operations as the investigation enters its second full day.<\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-1\">\n<div id=\"bg-ssp-pre-11324\"><\/div>\n<div id=\"bg-ssp-11324-1369742196271\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3 data-start=\"740\" data-end=\"778\">The Crash and Immediate Response<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/aea65fe4-5123-4b97-a966-a73b0fef5144\/ups-plane-1-gty-gmh-251105_1762358395949_hpMain.jpg\" alt=\"Officials believe death toll after Kentucky UPS plane crash will stand at  14 - ABC News\" width=\"2983\" height=\"1836\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-2\">\n<div id=\"bg-ssp-pre-11266\"><\/div>\n<div id=\"bg-ssp-11266-19697699473\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-start=\"780\" data-end=\"1068\">The incident occurred around\u00a0<strong data-start=\"809\" data-end=\"830\">5:15 p.m. Tuesday<\/strong>, when a\u00a0<strong data-start=\"839\" data-end=\"861\">UPS MD-11 aircraft<\/strong>\u00a0experienced catastrophic failure during takeoff. The plane, bound for\u00a0<strong data-start=\"932\" data-end=\"952\">Honolulu, Hawaii<\/strong>, was carrying standard freight and approximately\u00a0<strong data-start=\"1002\" data-end=\"1032\">38,000 gallons of jet fuel<\/strong>, according to aviation officials.<\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-10\"><\/div>\n<p data-start=\"1070\" data-end=\"1441\">Witnesses reported seeing the aircraft struggling to gain altitude before descending near the runway area. Two nearby businesses,\u00a0<strong data-start=\"1200\" data-end=\"1232\">Kentucky Petroleum Recycling<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong data-start=\"1237\" data-end=\"1259\">Grade A Auto Parts<\/strong>, sustained significant structural damage. Emergency crews from\u00a0<strong data-start=\"1323\" data-end=\"1348\">Louisville Metro Fire<\/strong>,\u00a0<strong data-start=\"1350\" data-end=\"1377\">Kentucky National Guard<\/strong>, and\u00a0<strong data-start=\"1383\" data-end=\"1413\">airport emergency services<\/strong>\u00a0responded within minutes.<\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-3\">\n<div id=\"bg-ssp-pre-11333\"><\/div>\n<div id=\"bg-ssp-11333-1702053009024\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-start=\"1443\" data-end=\"1671\">Governor\u00a0<strong data-start=\"1452\" data-end=\"1468\">Andy Beshear<\/strong>\u00a0declared a\u00a0<strong data-start=\"1480\" data-end=\"1502\">state of emergency<\/strong>\u00a0Tuesday evening to accelerate deployment of state resources and opened the\u00a0<strong data-start=\"1578\" data-end=\"1612\">Kentucky Emergency Relief Fund<\/strong>\u00a0to assist with funerals, response costs, and rebuilding.<\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-7\">\n<div id=\"bg-ssp-pre-11351\"><\/div>\n<div id=\"bg-ssp-11351-922291146287\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3 data-start=\"1673\" data-end=\"1709\">Confirmed Victims and Injuries<\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2025\/11\/05\/multimedia\/00nat-louisville-crash-pgfb\/00nat-louisville-crash-pgfb-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&amp;auto=webp&amp;disable=upscale\" alt=\"UPS Plane's Engine Detached Before Deadly Louisville Crash, Official Says -  The New York Times\" \/><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1711\" data-end=\"1764\">UPS has identified the three crew members on board:<\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-8\">\n<div id=\"bg-ssp-pre-11352\"><\/div>\n<div id=\"bg-ssp-11352-575171110839\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<ul data-start=\"1765\" data-end=\"1914\">\n<li data-start=\"1765\" data-end=\"1823\">\n<p data-start=\"1767\" data-end=\"1823\"><strong data-start=\"1767\" data-end=\"1797\">Captain Richard Wartenberg<\/strong>, Independence, Kentucky<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1824\" data-end=\"1856\">\n<p data-start=\"1826\" data-end=\"1856\"><strong data-start=\"1826\" data-end=\"1854\">First Officer Lee Truitt<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1857\" data-end=\"1914\">\n<p data-start=\"1859\" data-end=\"1914\"><strong data-start=\"1859\" data-end=\"1912\">International Relief Officer Captain Dana Diamond<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"1916\" data-end=\"2070\">All three perished in the accident. Authorities have also confirmed additional casualties from the surrounding industrial area. As of Wednesday morning:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"2071\" data-end=\"2205\">\n<li data-start=\"2071\" data-end=\"2102\">\n<p data-start=\"2073\" data-end=\"2102\"><strong data-start=\"2073\" data-end=\"2090\">14 fatalities<\/strong>\u00a0confirmed<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2103\" data-end=\"2160\">\n<p data-start=\"2105\" data-end=\"2160\"><strong data-start=\"2105\" data-end=\"2126\">15 people injured<\/strong>, with two in critical condition<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2161\" data-end=\"2205\">\n<p data-start=\"2163\" data-end=\"2205\"><strong data-start=\"2163\" data-end=\"2180\">9 individuals<\/strong>\u00a0remain unaccounted for<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"2207\" data-end=\"2348\">Family-assistance and reunification services have been established at the\u00a0<strong data-start=\"2281\" data-end=\"2325\">Louisville Metro Police Training Academy<\/strong>\u00a0on Taylor Boulevard.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"2350\" data-end=\"2377\">The Airport Situation<\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/b7aac1fb-1be4-405a-b709-6a9ce26462ed\/ups-plane-4-ap-gmh-251105_1762358880765_hpMain.jpg\" alt=\"Officials believe death toll after Kentucky UPS plane crash will stand at  14 - ABC News\" \/><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2379\" data-end=\"2671\">Operations at\u00a0<strong data-start=\"2393\" data-end=\"2442\">Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport<\/strong>\u00a0were temporarily halted following the crash. Two of the airport\u2019s runways have since reopened, but\u00a0<strong data-start=\"2542\" data-end=\"2577\">flight delays and cancellations<\/strong>\u00a0continue. Officials advise travelers to check directly with airlines for updated schedules.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2673\" data-end=\"2758\">Airport spokesperson\u00a0<strong data-start=\"2694\" data-end=\"2712\">Natalie Hughes<\/strong>\u00a0stated that safety inspections are ongoing:<\/p>\n<blockquote data-start=\"2759\" data-end=\"2924\">\n<p data-start=\"2761\" data-end=\"2924\">\u201cOur primary focus remains the well-being of affected families, our employees, and ensuring all runways meet operational safety standards before full reopening.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h3 data-start=\"2926\" data-end=\"2954\">Investigation Underway<\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/2025-louisville-kentucky-fully-fueled-114807805.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1024\" alt=\"Massive explosion from a UPS cargo plane crash near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport.\" \/><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2956\" data-end=\"3270\">The\u00a0<strong data-start=\"2960\" data-end=\"3007\">National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong data-start=\"3012\" data-end=\"3053\">Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)<\/strong>\u00a0are leading the investigation. The aircraft\u2019s\u00a0<strong data-start=\"3100\" data-end=\"3151\">cockpit voice recorder and flight-data recorder<\/strong>\u2014commonly known as black boxes\u2014have been recovered and transported to a laboratory in Washington, D.C., for analysis.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3272\" data-end=\"3601\">NTSB officials confirmed that\u00a0<strong data-start=\"3302\" data-end=\"3328\">no hazardous materials<\/strong>\u00a0were listed in the cargo manifest, though the fuel load contributed to extensive secondary fires that complicated initial rescue efforts. Investigators will now focus on mechanical performance, maintenance records, and flight-crew communications leading up to the crash.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3603\" data-end=\"3883\">According to\u00a0<strong data-start=\"3616\" data-end=\"3633\">Flightradar24<\/strong>, the final recorded data from the aircraft showed a ground speed of approximately\u00a0<strong data-start=\"3716\" data-end=\"3739\">184 knots (211 mph)<\/strong>\u00a0at low altitude. While this information provides context, investigators stress that determining cause will require weeks of technical review.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"3885\" data-end=\"3917\">Local and Federal Response<\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/cargo-plane-crashed-shortly-takeoff-114821028.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1024\" alt=\"A massive fireball and thick black smoke rising from a cargo plane crash in Louisville, Kentucky.\" \/><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3919\" data-end=\"3999\">Dozens of agencies are assisting with site containment and cleanup, including:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"4000\" data-end=\"4185\">\n<li data-start=\"4000\" data-end=\"4042\">\n<p data-start=\"4002\" data-end=\"4042\"><strong data-start=\"4002\" data-end=\"4040\">Louisville Metro Police Department<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"4043\" data-end=\"4074\">\n<p data-start=\"4045\" data-end=\"4074\"><strong data-start=\"4045\" data-end=\"4072\">Louisville Fire and EMS<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"4075\" data-end=\"4104\">\n<p data-start=\"4077\" data-end=\"4104\"><strong data-start=\"4077\" data-end=\"4102\">Kentucky State Police<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"4105\" data-end=\"4151\">\n<p data-start=\"4107\" data-end=\"4151\"><strong data-start=\"4107\" data-end=\"4149\">Louisville Emergency Management Agency<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"4152\" data-end=\"4185\">\n<p data-start=\"4154\" data-end=\"4185\"><strong data-start=\"4154\" data-end=\"4183\">U.S. National Guard units<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"4187\" data-end=\"4394\">Governor Beshear emphasized gratitude for first responders, many of whom worked overnight in challenging conditions. \u201cKentucky stands with every family affected by this tragedy,\u201d he said during a briefing.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"4396\" data-end=\"4425\">Statements from Leaders<\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"4427\" data-end=\"4520\">Kentucky\u2019s congressional delegation and national leaders offered condolences Tuesday night.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4522\" data-end=\"4557\"><strong data-start=\"4522\" data-end=\"4554\">U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<blockquote data-start=\"4558\" data-end=\"4792\">\n<p data-start=\"4560\" data-end=\"4792\">\u201cMy team and I are closely monitoring developments around the Louisville airport and remain in contact with local, state, and federal authorities. We extend deep thanks to the first responders for their swift and selfless action.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p data-start=\"4794\" data-end=\"5002\"><strong data-start=\"4794\" data-end=\"4815\">Senator Rand Paul<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong data-start=\"4820\" data-end=\"4852\">Representative Thomas Massie<\/strong>\u00a0also expressed sympathies, urging residents to follow official updates and avoid speculation until federal investigators release verified findings.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"5004\" data-end=\"5033\">Impact on the Community<\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/emergency-crews-responding-airport-crash-114806155.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1024\" alt=\"Aerial view of an airport crash site with large flames and thick black smoke.\" \/><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"5035\" data-end=\"5346\">Louisville residents described the aftermath as deeply unsettling. While no residential neighborhoods were directly affected, smoke and debris temporarily disrupted nearby traffic routes and air quality. Environmental crews are assessing potential contamination from runoff or burned fuel near the crash site.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"5348\" data-end=\"5595\">City officials have coordinated with\u00a0<strong data-start=\"5385\" data-end=\"5413\">Louisville Water Company<\/strong>\u00a0and environmental agencies to ensure that local water systems remain unaffected. Air monitoring stations have reported safe levels of particulate matter as of Wednesday afternoon.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"5597\" data-end=\"5924\">The tragedy also reverberates through\u00a0<strong data-start=\"5635\" data-end=\"5664\">UPS\u2019s global headquarters<\/strong>, which is based in Louisville and serves as one of the world\u2019s largest air-freight hubs. The company released a statement expressing \u201cprofound sorrow for the loss of colleagues and community members\u201d and pledged full cooperation with the NTSB investigation.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"5926\" data-end=\"5954\">Transition to Recovery<\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/2025-louisville-kentucky-fully-fueled-114806469.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1024\" alt=\"Heavy smoke rises from the site of a UPS cargo plane crash near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport.\" \/><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"5956\" data-end=\"6169\">By late Wednesday, emergency crews had contained all fires and begun debris removal. Investigators are mapping the wreckage field, cataloging evidence, and interviewing airport personnel who witnessed the event.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"6171\" data-end=\"6434\">Governor Beshear noted that while \u201chopes for additional rescues have ended,\u201d recovery operations will continue through the week to account for those still missing. Counseling and trauma-support teams have been dispatched to assist families and first responders.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"6436\" data-end=\"6709\">The\u00a0<strong data-start=\"6440\" data-end=\"6475\">Federal Aviation Administration<\/strong>\u00a0will issue an interim safety advisory once preliminary findings are available. Until then, all MD-11 aircraft in the UPS fleet are undergoing internal maintenance checks, though there is no current indication of a fleet-wide issue.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"6711\" data-end=\"6730\">Looking Ahead<\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"6732\" data-end=\"7091\">A full\u00a0<strong data-start=\"6739\" data-end=\"6754\">NTSB report<\/strong>\u2014including probable cause and safety recommendations\u2014is expected within 12 to 18 months, consistent with standard investigative timelines. Aviation experts anticipate that lessons from the Louisville crash will inform future safety improvements for cargo-plane operations, especially regarding heavy-fuel loads and takeoff performance.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"7093\" data-end=\"7313\">For the city of Louisville, the focus now turns to supporting families, rebuilding damaged businesses, and honoring those who lost their lives. Local faith communities are planning memorial services in the coming days.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"7315\" data-end=\"7370\">As Governor Beshear concluded in his latest briefing:<\/p>\n<blockquote data-start=\"7371\" data-end=\"7547\">\n<p data-start=\"7373\" data-end=\"7547\">\u201cWe have faced floods, storms, and hardship before, but Kentuckians always rise together. We will heal, we will rebuild, and we will remember every life lost with dignity.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<hr data-start=\"7549\" data-end=\"7552\" \/>\n<p data-start=\"7554\" data-end=\"7567\"><strong data-start=\"7554\" data-end=\"7565\">Sources<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"7568\" data-end=\"7998\">\n<li data-start=\"7568\" data-end=\"7670\">\n<p data-start=\"7570\" data-end=\"7670\"><a class=\"decorated-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ntsb.gov\/\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"7570\" data-end=\"7668\">National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) \u2013 Preliminary Statement (2025)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"7671\" data-end=\"7735\">\n<p data-start=\"7673\" data-end=\"7735\"><a class=\"decorated-link cursor-pointer\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"7673\" data-end=\"7733\">Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"7736\" data-end=\"7795\">\n<p data-start=\"7738\" data-end=\"7795\">[Louisville Metro Government \u2013 Official Press Briefing]<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"7796\" data-end=\"7847\">\n<p data-start=\"7798\" data-end=\"7847\">[UPS Corporate Communications \u2013 Public Release]<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"7848\" data-end=\"7911\">\n<p data-start=\"7850\" data-end=\"7911\"><a class=\"decorated-link\" href=\"https:\/\/kyem.ky.gov\/\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"7850\" data-end=\"7909\">Kentucky Emergency Management Agency<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"7912\" data-end=\"7998\">\n<p data-start=\"7914\" data-end=\"7998\"><a class=\"decorated-link cursor-pointer\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"7914\" data-end=\"7996\">Reuters Aviation &amp; Transport<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Louisville, Kentucky \u2014\u00a0Federal investigators and local authorities are continuing to examine the cause of a\u00a0UPS cargo plane crash\u00a0at\u00a0Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, which left at least\u00a014 people confirmed dead\u00a0and several &hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6446","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/todaynews11.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6446","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/todaynews11.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/todaynews11.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/todaynews11.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/todaynews11.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6446"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/todaynews11.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6446\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6447,"href":"https:\/\/todaynews11.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6446\/revisions\/6447"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/todaynews11.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6446"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/todaynews11.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6446"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/todaynews11.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6446"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}