Beshear said approximately 200 law enforcement officers, including 18 fire departments, responded quickly to the crash, which he described as a “blazing inferno.”
“There is a significant amount of resources in the search and rescue and, ultimately, what is probably by now the recovery effort that is occurring,” Beshear said, later noting that he has declared a state of emergency to “move resources more quickly through emergency management and the Kentucky National Guard.”
Sean Garber, who owns one of the businesses struck by the explosion, Grade A Auto Parts & Recycling, said four of his company’s 18 buildings were destroyed by the blast. The crash also affected Petroleum Recycling.
“There was a huge ball of fire and massive multiple explosions occurring all around and obviously people running and screaming,” Garber told NBC News.
He estimated that at least 20 people were in the buildings at the time of the explosion.
“People had to jump out windows of some of the offices because the heat had melted and blocked the doors,” Garber added.
Officials issued a shelter-in-place order for the surrounding area, reduced to a quarter-mile radius around the crash site, the mayor said Wednesday morning. Greenberg told reporters on Wednesday that about 135 customers remained without power.
Beshear said Wednesday that a nearby restaurant, Stooges Bar and Grill, was narrowly spared in the crash and is now assisting with search-and-recovery efforts.
“We’re grateful for them,” Beshear added. “Another blessing is that this plane could have potentially hit the major Ford factory or the convention center.”
The crash happened on the airport’s West Runway, the airport said Tuesday. As of Wednesday morning, the airport said it was open and “available for aircraft operations.”
“TSA screening remains ongoing this morning for departing passengers,” the airport said in a statement on X. “Anyone scheduled to depart or arrive at SDF today is encouraged to closely monitor their flight status as delays.”
Dan Mann, the chief executive of the Louisville Regional Airport Authority, said Wednesday at the news conference that 12% of flights at the airport were canceled and that delays were expected. He added that the National Transportation Safety Board had arrived at the crash site and was scheduled to address the public.
UPS said in a statement Tuesday that it was “terribly saddened” by the crash.
“Our heartfelt thoughts are with everyone involved,” the company said. “UPS is committed to the safety of our employees, our customers and the communities we serve. This is particularly true in Louisville, home to our airline and thousands of UPSers.”
The company has a large footprint in Louisville, with roughly 25,000 of its employees based in the city, according to the company’s website. UPS called the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport “the centerpiece of the company’s global air network,” with roughly 400 of its flights arriving and departing each day.
UPS said Wednesday that some of its employees should not report to work that day and urged family members seeking information to call 800-631-0604.
A UPS spokesperson directed NBC News to the company’s media page for updates when asked a series of questions.
The last crash involving UPS occurred in 2013 when a cargo plane crashed near Birmingham, Alabama, killing two pilots.
Adrienne Broaddus and Ava Kelley contributed.
