Eyewitness Accounts of UPS Plane Crash: 'Continuous Explosions' and 'Seared Clothing'

At an auto parts recycling center near Louisville's airport, Georgie Dow never imagined the chaos that would ensue after she heard a massive boom.

Dow, the CFO of Grade A Auto Parts, situated close to the path of UPS Flight 2976, recounted the devastation as she stepped outside on Tuesday, witnessing the inferno encircling the premises.

"There was one blast after another. It seemed endless," Dow mentioned to CBS News, reflecting on the accident that claimed at least 12 lives. "Everything was unpredictable. What would erupt next? The fear was palpable."

She vividly recalled the frantic screams, asking about missing persons. "Names were shouted. I saw clothing that had melted," Dow said. "The heat was so intense. It pushed you back. There was nothing anyone could do."

The ill-fated cargo plane, loaded with massive quantities of goods and thousands of gallons of jet fuel, was clocking over 200 mph during takeoff when it went down. The left wing was reportedly ablaze as the MD-11 tipped and ignited into a blazing path, while investigators from the NTSB worked to uncover the cause.

J. Todd Inman from the NTSB noted on Wednesday that it seemed the plane's left engine detached. Investigators have located the black boxes, and despite some damage from the flames, specialists will likely extract useful data once the devices are analyzed in Washington, D.C.

Impact on Nearby Businesses

The remains of the aircraft collided with Sean Garber's scrap metal company and other local establishments, including a recycling facility directly hit, according to Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear.

In deep distress, Dow contacted Garber immediately, worried about his son, who often worked on site. Fortunately, Joey Garber was with Dow during the crash, but three employees are still unaccounted for, Garber stated.

A surviving worker had to leap between metal piles as searing heat overhead threatened him. He helped a client, entirely stripped of clothes by the fire, to find safety, Garber recalled.

Devastating Aftermath

Footage captured by Garber's son revealed the scorching aftermath—flames and dense smoke covered a vast expanse. Reports indicated numerous injuries, and there were still 14 people unaccounted for by Wednesday night.

Without electricity at his facility, Garber struggled to identify the missing but was collaborating with authorities to gather more information.

Reflecting on the tragedy, Dow expressed, "My mind is on my family, my children."

"I keep replaying my last interactions with loved ones. Was that the memory they'd hold on to? This experience makes me rethink my priorities. Yesterday could have been my last," she lamented.