Early Wednesday morning a UPS Airbus A300 crashed outside of Birmingham Airport. The plane was just short of the runway when it crash landed. So far there are no reports of possible causes, or any information regarding crew or injuries. Alabama station WVTM-TV commented that the crash site is an open field owned by the airport.
The flight may have been the UPS 1354 from Louisville Intl to Birmingham, according to NYC Aviation.com. This flight would have been only 45 minutes long. Birmingham’s mayor has already confirmed 2 deaths because of the crash, the pilot and co-pilot. There have so far been no reports of any injuries taking place on the ground. A team is currently examining and investigating the circumstances of the crash.
The airport at Birmingham is currently still open and flights are running on time. A single runway is close, 18/36, and the lights and other systems on that runway are nonoperational.
William Bell, the mayor of Birmingham commented that there was a long debris field at the crash site. He also noted that the airframe had been broken up into several parts, while there were no storms in the area. There were also no distress calls reportedly made to the control tower prior to the crash. UPS released a statement that told of its two crewmembers that died in the accident. “This incident is very unfortunate, and out thoughts and prayers are with those involved,” commented UPS Airlines President Mitch Nichols.
Airbus also released a statement, succinctly regretting to confirm that an A300 was involved in an accident. It gives technical specifications and details of the engine and aircraft. Their statement closes by saying that “at this time there was no further factual information available, [but that] the concerns and sympathies of the Airbus employees go out to the families, friends and loved ones affected by the accident of Flight 1354.