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Incredible footage shows a doomed UPS plane flipping and exploding in a ball of fire as it took off from a Kentucky airport — and the stunned reaction of a truck driver parked nearby who watched the blazing horror unfold in front of him.
The clip was taken from the dashcam of a truck parked at Louisville’s Muhammad Ali International Airport, and captured UPS Flight 2976 as it attempted to lift off on Tuesday afternoon.
A ball of flame was already following the aircraft as it careened into view, and within an instant, it rolled over and crashed to the ground in a lot filled with cargo trucks.
The plane smashed out of view with a roaring rush as flames consumed the lot and several trucks parked in its path.
The dashcam captured the reaction of the driver as the fast-moving fireball lit up his face, leaving his mouth and eyes wide in shock.
He watched the plane explode, then leapt from the cab.
“Ohhh s–t!” he yelled, “Oh my f–king god!”
At least nine people were killed in the wreck, with officials cautioning the death toll could continue to rise.
The jet was carrying about 50,000 gallons of fuel when it took off from the airport, with separate footage showing the plane’s left engine completely engulfed in hot flames as it sped down the runway for takeoff — before smashing back down moments after its nose lifted from the ground.
It was headed for Hawaii and carrying three crew members who were killed. At least 16 families have come forward to report that loved ones who were near the wreck site haven’t been accounted for.
And the plane crashed into a petroleum recycling plant south of the runway, leading to a fire that raged for hours as over 100 firefighters battled it.
“We have watched this terrible video, we have watched these horrible incidents, just remember, please, those are real people that that impacted,” Louisville Fire Chief Brian O’Neill said at a press conference following the crash.
“Let’s take a moment to think about them and their families and their loved ones,” he added.
English (US)