Pilots' Struggle Before Fatal Crash

A cargo plane's crew fought to regain control just before it crashed in Louisville, Kentucky.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) shared this detail during a recent update. The incident happened earlier this week, resulting in at least 13 fatalities.

Flight Details and Incident Timeline

• Operator: UPS
• Aircraft: 34-year-old MD-11 freighter
• Takeoff: Routine at first
• Incident: Began 37 seconds after takeoff
• Alarm: Persistent bell sounded in the cockpit for 25 seconds before the recording ended

Crash Details

• Altitude: Plane reached about 100 feet before nose-diving off the runway
• Impact: Caused a fire and destroyed two nearby businesses
• Engine Separation: One of the plane's three engines separated from the left wing
• Pylon: The bulk of the engine's pylon remained attached to the engine when it detached

Investigation Focus

• Engine Debris: Investigators are examining debris found on the runway
• Maintenance History: The plane underwent heavy maintenance in San Antonio, Texas, during a six-week period this fall

Cockpit Voice Recorder

• Duration: Contains two hours and four minutes of clear audio
• Public Release: Transcript will be released in several months

Typical Crash Investigation

• Factors: Air crashes usually result from multiple factors
• Preliminary Report: Typically issued 30 days after the incident