Louisville, Ky. — A UPS cargo plane tragically crashed shortly after takeoff Tuesday at the company’s primary aviation hub, killing all 14 individuals on board, including three pilots. The incident occurred at UPS Worldport, where the aircraft, bound for Honolulu, ignited upon liftoff, resulting in a cataclysmic explosion as it careened back to the ground.

National Transportation Safety Board member Todd Inman revealed that a bell sounded in the cockpit roughly 37 seconds after the crew initiated takeoff thrust. This alarm, which has yet to be definitively linked to a specific failure, rang as the plane struggled to gain altitude, ultimately losing an engine and catching fire on its left wing.

The investigation will require considerable time to compile and analyze vital cockpit recordings and data, which could take several months, according to Inman. Meanwhile, former federal crash investigator Jeff Guzzetti emphasized the significance of the timing of the alarm, noting that it likely indicated an engine fire during a critical phase of the takeoff. He pointed out that the crew might have passed the point of safely aborting the takeoff, indicating a potentially difficult situation as they faced an immediate crisis.

Dramatic video footage from various sources, including mobile phones and security cameras, offers investigators multiple perspectives of the incident as the aircraft crashed shortly after barely reaching an altitude of about 100 feet—far below initial reports of 475 feet. Before the crash, the plane allegedly reached speeds of 210 mph. Disturbing images captured the explosion as the plane struck surrounding businesses.

Pieces of the left engine and fan blades were recovered from the crash site, aiding the ongoing investigation. Inman stated that UPS had indicated no significant maintenance work had been performed on the aircraft shortly before its departure. Investigators will scrutinize footage for any activity around the MD-11 in the days leading up to the accident.

UPS Worldport, which employs over 20,000 individuals in the area and manages more than 300 flights daily, resumed operations for its night sorting process soon after the incident. The facility, responsible for sorting over 400,000 packages an hour, is critical to UPS’s logistics network.

Legal actions have already surfaced in response to the crash. A federal lawsuit was filed Wednesday against UPS by a local automotive repair shop that was destroyed during the explosion, as well as a nearby resident hospitalized for smoke inhalation. The suit also names the plane and engine manufacturers, alleging negligence and seeking unspecified damages.

As investigators continue their work, the focus remains on understanding the intricate details leading to this devastating accident and ensuring accountability from all parties involved.