A UPS plane crashed shortly after takeoff near Louisville International Airport in Kentucky on Tuesday, resulting in at least 12 confirmed deaths and over a dozen injuries, officials reported.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation into the crash. By Wednesday afternoon, the black boxes containing flight data were successfully recovered.
The death toll increased several times on Wednesday. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear and Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg warned the number could rise further since several individuals remained unaccounted for.
"We do not expect to find anyone else alive," said Governor Beshear during a Wednesday news briefing.
The governor also mentioned that one of the victims is believed to be a young child. A state of emergency was declared on Wednesday in response to the crash.
None of the victims have been identified so far. Mayor Greenberg noted that the Jefferson County Coroner is on site to proceed with identifications.
The UPS plane crash near Louisville has led to a tragic loss of life, with ongoing searches and an active investigation, while officials brace for a higher death toll and continue victim identification efforts.