Engine detached from UPS plane before fatal crash in Kentucky, NTSB reports

A UPS cargo plane experienced a fire in its left wing and lost an engine shortly before crashing and exploding following takeoff in Louisville, Kentucky. These details were provided by a federal investigator on Wednesday, shedding light on the tragic incident which claimed the lives of at least nine individuals. Emergency responders are still combing the area for additional victims in the aftermath of the crash at UPS Worldport, the main aviation hub for the company. The intense fire consumed the large aircraft and extended to nearby establishments. According to Todd Inman from the National Transportation Safety Board, there was a fire in the left wing of the plane and the engine became detached during takeoff, resulting in debris scattered across a half-mile area. Despite the devastation, Governor Andy Beshear expressed relief that certain locations close to the crash site, like a popular restaurant, were spared. The impact also led to smaller explosions at nearby businesses, although it narrowly missed causing damage to larger facilities like the Ford factory and convention center. Authorities are bracing for a potentially higher death toll as families await news at a reunification center, with ongoing search efforts expected to be extensive due to the vast debris field.