By Ben Dickison, Staff Writer

On Sunday, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg announced that all people who had been reported missing in the wake of an explosive cargo jet crash had been found dead. The McDonnell Douglas MD-11 was leaving the UPS Worldport at Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) when it failed to take off and struck a petroleum factory and auto repair shop. As of now, a reported 14 people have passed away as a result of the crash.

According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the left engine of the aircraft caught fire and caused the left wing to detach. The plane was carrying at least 38,000 gallons of oil which contributed to an inferno and debris field that spanned nearly half a mile. 

“The Metro Sanitation Department helped stop over 30,000 gallons of oil from going into our groundwater. They and their entire team should be commended for the early action and continued work that they’ve done throughout this process,” Greenberg said in a press conference on Monday.

In response to the crash, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has grounded all MD-11 and MD-11F aircrafts while they endure a thorough inspection. Prior to the national decision, UPS grounded its MD-11 fleet “proactively at the recommendation of the aircraft manufacturer.” The MD-11 that crashed in Louisville was 34 years old, which is near the average lifespan for cargo planes in the U.S. UPS had already announced plans in February 2023 to phase out these aircrafts from its cargo fleet. The company cited increasing maintenance costs and decreasing fuel efficiency as the driving factors of this decision. There is no indication that the age of the fallen aircraft was a reason for its demise.

“My family lives miles and miles away from the airport and they saw the cloud of smoke from our house,” junior psychology major and lifelong Louisville resident Loren Wilson said. “I worry about a city the size of Louisville being able to endure such a tragedy.”

In an interview with CNN, CEO of Grade A Autoparts Sean Garber, described a blaze of “continuous explosions” that were reminiscent of “hell’s fury” engulfing a nearby building. 

Stooges Bar & Grill, a hangout spot for UPS workers, also endured crucial damage. Kyla Kenady, a bartender at the establishment, told WAVE News that the crash led to the bar looking like a “temporary morgue.” 

The restaurant will be forced to close until repairs to the roof can be made, leaving its 43 employees without work. Nearby O’Dollys Bar & Grill is lending a hand to Stooges’ in this time of need. Owned by the same family, O’Dolly’s is working to adjust their schedule to provide shifts to all who cannot work until Stooge’s reopens.

Since 2002, UPS has conducted its primary air cargo functions at SDF. Nearly 300 flights take off from Worldport each day, which provides employment opportunities for 13,000 Louisvillians. UPS was able to resume its Next Day Delivery program by Thursday morning, but the recovery process for air cargo is expected to take several days as orders increase during the holiday season.