7 Dead After UPS Plane Crashes on Takeoff in Louisville, Kentucky

Core Points - A United Parcel Service Inc. (UPS) freighter jet crashed shortly after takeoff from Louisville, Kentucky, resulting in the deaths of three crew members and at least four individuals on the ground [1][3] - The aircraft involved was a McDonnell Douglas MD-11, which struggled to gain altitude with one engine on fire before exploding [2][6] - The incident has raised concerns as it adds to a series of aviation accidents this year, highlighting ongoing issues in the aviation industry [8][9] Company Response - UPS confirmed the involvement of an MD-11 with three crew members and stated it is cooperating with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) [4][5] - The company has suspended package sorting operations at its main global hub, Worldport, following the crash [5] Aircraft Details - The MD-11 involved in the crash was 34 years old and had reached takeoff speeds before descending rapidly [6][10] - UPS operated 27 MD-11 aircraft as of September 30, making it one of the largest operators of this model [10] Historical Context - The aircraft was originally built for Thai Airways International in the early 1990s and converted into a freighter for UPS about 20 years ago [11] - Previous accidents involving UPS operations include a 2010 crash of a Boeing 747-400F and an Airbus A300-600F crash in 2013, both attributed to various operational issues [12]