UPS A300 Crashes in Alabama

A UPS Airbus A300-600F en route from Louisville, Kentucky, to Birmingham, Alabama, crashed early Wednesday as it approached Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport. The National Transportation Board said that it has launched a so-called go team to the crash site. Approaching Birmingham International's Runway 18 shortly after 4:50 a.m. local time, UPS Flight 1354 first hit the ground roughly a mile from the airport, leaving a half-mile trail of debris before coming to rest. According to local press reports, both pilots died in the crash.

A statement issued by Airbus confirmed that it delivered the airplane involved, MSN841, to UPS in 2003. The Pratt & Whitney-powered jet had accumulated approximately 11,000 hours during some 6,800 flights.

UPS has issued a statement indicating it has yet to determine details of the incident and that it would release more information as it becomes available.