View this video on YouTube
BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC) -
A spokesperson for the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth Airport has confirmed a plane crash on Wednesday morning.
Toni Herrera-Bast says a large cargo plane crashed around 5 a.m. in an open area near North Eastlake Boulevard. The crash scene is not within the airport fence.
UPS spokesperson Mike Mangeot has confirmed the plane to be Flight 1354, a UPS A-300 Airbus plane with tail number N155UP and two crew members aboard. The flight originated out of Louisville, Kentucky and crashed upon approach in Birmingham.
Birmingham Mayor William Bell says Birmingham Fire crews have found the pilot and copilot deceased at the scene.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the crew," said Mangeot.
Mangeot adds there are typically two flights to Birmingham in a day, one during the daytime and one at night.
Chris Brookes, an assistant fire chief of operations with Birmingham Fire and Rescue, says crews are not sure if there are fatalities on the ground. Fire crews are still working to put out fires from the wreck. Brookes says he believes the damage to be spread over a distance of about a half mile.
Sharon Wilson lives near the site of the crash. She says planes fly over her house everday. According to Wilson, the plane sounded lower and seemed to be sputtering like it was running out of fuel. She says they heard a loud crash and explosions after the plane passed overhead.
"We heard this loud boom, like, jump up out of your bed," said Wilson.
Officials with Birmingham-Shuttlesworth Airport say the crash will not affect air traffic.
Share This Article
