UPS Cargo Plane Crash: Investigators Probe Mysterious ‘Repeating Bell’ Sound During Takeoff

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A UPS cargo plane attempted to take off but faced a catastrophic failure moments later. Just seconds after the crew called for takeoff thrust, an alarm rang in the cockpit. The aircraft, an MD-11 heading for Honolulu, was barely airborne when it encountered severe problems, resulting in a crash that killed 14 people, including the three pilots.

Todd Inman, a member of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), shared that the cockpit voice recorder captured the alarming sound about 37 seconds after takeoff was initiated. Investigators are still puzzled about the cause of the alarm. They confirmed that the left wing was on fire and that the engine had detached, but the exact reason for the alarm is still under investigation.

Former federal crash investigator Jeff Guzzetti speculated that the alarm signaled the imminent engine fire. He highlighted the challenging decision the pilots faced: they likely couldn’t safely abort the takeoff by the time they realized something was wrong.

Dramatic videos from witnesses captured the plane crash and the resulting fireball as the aircraft hit the ground. The NTSB clarified that the plane only ascended to about 100 feet, reaching a speed of 210 mph before the crash. Investigators also recovered parts of the left engine and fan blades from the site. No maintenance work was reported just before the flight, and further analysis will examine activities around the aircraft in the days leading up to the incident.

UPS Worldport, the company’s main hub in Louisville, supports over 20,000 jobs, managing 300 flights daily and processing over 400,000 packages every hour. Despite the tragedy, UPS has resumed operations at the facility.

Litigation has started in response to the crash, with a federal lawsuit claiming negligence on part of UPS and other involved parties. The suit was filed by a local automotive repair shop affected by the crash and a resident who suffered from smoke inhalation. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and names the plane and engine manufacturers as defendants.

Per a recent survey, aviation safety incidents like this one have raised concerns among the public. A poll indicated that over 65% of respondents worry about airline safety amid rising air traffic.

As investigations continue, the aviation community remains focused on uncovering crucial insights to prevent future tragedies.



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General news, Todd Inman, Louisville, Plane crashes, Kentucky, KY State Wire, Transportation, Air incidents, Fires, Jeff Guzzetti, Jim Mayer, National Transportation Safety Board, U.S. news, Business