Pilots' Struggle Before Fatal Crash

A cargo plane's crew fought to regain control just before it crashed in Louisville, Kentucky. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) shared this detail during a recent update. The incident happened earlier this week, resulting in at least 13 fatalities. The flight, operated by UPS, began like any other. However, things took a turn just 37 seconds after takeoff. A persistent bell sounded in the cockpit, captured on the flight's voice recorder. This alarm continued for 25 seconds until the recording ended, which investigators believe marked the plane's crash. The plane, a 34-year-old MD-11 freighter, managed to reach about 100 feet before it nose-dived off the runway. The impact caused a fire and destroyed two nearby businesses. During the crash, one of the plane's three engines separated from the left wing. The bulk of the engine's pylon, which connects the engine to the wing, remained attached to the engine when it detached. Investigators are now focusing on the engine debris found on the runway. They are also looking into the plane's maintenance history. The aircraft had undergone heavy maintenance at a facility in San Antonio, Texas, during a six-week period this fall. A transcript of the cockpit voice recorder, which contains two hours and four minutes of clear audio, will be released to the public in several months. Air crashes typically result from multiple factors, and a preliminary report is usually issued 30 days after the incident.