Officials in Kentucky announced that the number of dead stands at 11 after a UPS cargo jet crashed in Louisville, Kentucky, on Tuesday.
According to The New York Times, an engine fell off the plane moments before it took off Tuesday evening. Just after taking off, the jet with three crew members onboard, plunged to the ground and erupted into flames as it crashed through industrial buildings at the edge of the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said on Wednesday that at least 11 people died and that he believed the number would increase, per The New York Times. The identities of the victims have not been released, and the condition of some of the bodies could make it difficult to confirm identities.
A member of the National Transportation Safety Board, Todd Inman, said security footage shows the plane’s left engine detaching the wing which caught fire as the plane was rolling to take off.
The plane gained enough altitude to clear the fence at the end of the runway before it crashed just outside the airport, per The Associated Press. This caused a ripple effect striking and causing smaller explosions at Kentucky Petroleum Recycling and hitting an auto salvage yard.
The crash took place at 5:15 p.m. as the aircraft was departing for Honolulu, Hawaii.
Beshear said authorities are looking for a “handful of other people” but they do not expect to find any other survivors, per the AP.
At least 20 people have been treated at hospitals and other health care centers and two people are in critical condition in the burn unit at the University of Louisville Hospital.
The airport resumed operations on Wednesday, with at least one runway open.
