UPDATE: A tragic UPS cargo plane crash in Louisville, Kentucky, has left three Grade A Auto Parts employees missing and at least 12 confirmed dead. The incident occurred just after the plane took off on October 3, 2023, unleashing a devastating fireball that engulfed the facility, causing chaos and destruction.
Eyewitness accounts describe a scene of utter horror, with CEO Sean Garber receiving a panicked video call from his chief financial officer as the facility erupted in flames. “It looked like really hell’s fury around her,” Garber recalled, as employees fled from the inferno while the ground shook beneath them.
Authorities have confirmed that the plane collided with the auto parts and recycling center shortly after takeoff, leading to a harrowing aftermath that has left the community reeling. As rescue efforts continue, officials are shifting focus from rescue to recovery, with Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear stating, “We do not expect to find anyone else alive in the area.”
The crash has not only devastated the Grade A Auto Parts facility but also impacted nearby businesses, leaving a half-mile debris field of destruction. Witnesses described a scene where flames raged, and doors melted shut, forcing people to jump from windows to escape. As the search for survivors continues, the emotional toll on families remains palpable.
Families of the missing employees are now enduring an agonizing wait for news. One family member, Donald Henderson, shared his heartache as his girlfriend was last seen dropping off scrap metal at Grade A Auto Parts. “She’s all I got, so … I don’t know how this is going to turn out,” he told local news.
Grade A Auto Parts is working to access its computer system to identify customers who may have been present during the crash, but it remains unclear how many people were inside at the time. Garber indicated that typically between 15 to 30 customers visit around that hour.
Rescue teams are grappling with the grim reality of the situation, as two victims remain in critical condition at the University of Louisville Health. The community is now uniting in grief as they mourn those lost in this catastrophe.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Garber expressed deep sorrow and frustration, stating, “They didn’t get to go home and that’s a problem and that’s heartbreaking.” The search efforts are ongoing, but hopes are dwindling as the scale of the destruction becomes clear.
This developing story is likely to continue as more information becomes available. Stay tuned for updates as officials work to recover bodies and provide support to grieving families in the aftermath of this devastating incident.
