Meteorologist Pat Cavlin Analyzes Deadly UPS Plane Crash Takeoff

UPS Plane Crash Investigation

• ✈️ A UPS cargo plane crashed during takeoff from Louisville International Airport, resulting in at least 12 confirmed deaths and nearly 20 injuries.
• 🔍 Investigators have recovered the plane's black boxes and are focusing on a catastrophic failure in the left engine.
• 💥 Cell phone video captured fire coming from the left engine prior to the plane's detachment from the wing during takeoff.

Flight Path and Impact

• 📈 FAA flight data shows the plane, an MD11, began its takeoff roll from runway 17 right, drifting slightly to the left as it neared the runway's end.
• 💥 The aircraft subsequently clipped a warehouse south of the airport, erupting in a fireball and crashing into more buildings and parking lots.
• ⛽ The crash involved a significant amount of fuel, estimated between 28,000 to 40,000 gallons, which spread to structures, causing widespread fires.

Crew and Aircraft Details

• 🧑‍✈️ The flight was bound for Honolulu and carried three crew members, none of whom survived the crash.
• 🛠️ Aviation expert Greg Feith noted that the MD11 has engines on each wing and one in the tail, with evidence pointing to the left engine as the likely point of failure.
• 📰 The NTSB reported that the left engine detached from the plane during the takeoff roll, a critical piece of evidence for investigators.