A fiery plane crash killed at least nine, injured 11 after a UPS cargo plane crashed while taking off from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky on Tuesday. Experts analysing footage and reports say multiple factors may have contributed to the disaster, according to BBC.The MD-11 jet, bound for Honolulu, Hawaii, failed to gain altitude and erupted in a massive fireball. Footage shows the left wing engulfed in flames, with debris scattering across the runway and nearby buildings. Officials issued a shelter-in-place order while hundreds of firefighters rushed to the scene.
Here are some of the speculations about what could have caused the disaster:
1. Left engine failure or detachment
Analysts suggested that a failure of the left engine may have caused the initial crash. Footage confirmed by BBC Verify showed the left wing ablaze, tilting to one side as the plane attempted to lift off. Terry Tozer, a retired airline pilot, said it was “almost unheard of” for an engine to detach in flight, referencing the 1979 American Airlines Flight 191 disaster. Separate images showed a charred engine on the grass beside the runway.
2. Damage to the upper tail engine
A senior lecturer in aviation operations at Buckinghamshire New University, named Marco Chan, said that the centre engine appeared to be damaged, expelling a puff of smoke. The debris and fire from the left wing may have struck the engine, reducing thrust and leaving the aircraft with only one fully functioning engine.
3. Fire engulfing the left wing
BBC verified footage shows a blaze consuming the left wing as the aircraft reached 214mph (344 km/h) along the runway. The fire likely spread through the plane and may have triggered or intensified the explosion.
4. Power imbalance from engine loss
With the left and centre engines compromised, only the right engine produced thrust. “Losing two engines during take-off leaves the aircraft with only a third of its power and little chance of maintaining flight, especially at maximum take-off weight,” Chan said.
5. Heavy fuel load
The jet carried 38,000 gallons (144,000 litres) of fuel for the long-haul flight. Chan told BBC, “That heavy fuel load not only reduced performance but also explains the large fireball seen after the crash.” The fuel likely escalated the blaze, which spread to several buildings near the airport.
6. Possible mechanical or structural failure
Experts suggested that earlier maintenance or mechanical issues on the left engine may have contributed to its failure. Retired pilot Tozer said the engine detachment could have been caused by pre-existing damage.
7. Collision with objects on the ground
Footage indicates the plane may have caught fire after hitting an object on the runway, adding to the destruction and spreading flames to nearby structures, including a fuel recycling facility.
Aftermath and investigation
The 34-year-old MD-11 had previously operated as a passenger plane until 2006 and had completed a return flight earlier on Tuesday. Officials have not confirmed what cargo was on board.The National Transportation Safety Board has dispatched a team to investigate. Officials and experts will focus on how the initial fire began, whether debris struck the centre engine, and if earlier maintenance played a role. Weather conditions were calm and clear, making environmental factors unlikely.
