Sean Garber, who owns one of the businesses struck by the explosion, Grade A Auto Parts and Scrap Metal Recycling, said four of his company’s 18 buildings were destroyed by the blast. The crash also affected Kentucky Petroleum Recycling.
“There was a huge ball of fire and massive multiple explosions occurring all around and obviously people running and screaming,” Garber told NBC News.
He estimated that at least 20 people were in the buildings at the time of the explosion.
“People had to jump out windows of some of the offices because the heat had melted and blocked the doors,” Garber added.
Kentucky Petroleum Recycling, a second company whose properties were damaged in the explosion, declined to comment.
The airport was closed Tuesday after the crash but reopened Wednesday.
In a message to employees, UPS CEO Carol Tomé said, “We are deeply saddened and our hearts continue to be with all who have been impacted.”
“I am incredibly grateful to our team in Louisville for their grace and professionalism,” Tomé said in the message, shared on X by UPS. “We are not alone in this moment and from the notes I’ve received from around the world, I know that solidarity and empathy are powerful forces in healing. United, we are strong.”
UPS is the largest employer in the Louisville metro area, with more than 25,000 of its employees based there.
UPS calls the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport “the centerpiece of the company’s global air network,” with roughly 400 of its flights arriving and departing each day.
UPS said that some of its employees should not report to work Wednesday and urged family members seeking information to call 800-631-0604. A UPS spokesperson directed NBC News to the company’s media page for updates when asked a series of questions.
The last crash involving UPS occurred in 2013, when a cargo plane crashed near Birmingham, Alabama, killing two pilots.
The plane that crashed Tuesday narrowly missed Stooges Bar & Grill, where at least six employees and nearly two dozen customers were gathered when the tragedy unfolded about 100 yards away, witnesses said.
A regular customer had just barked at bartender Kyla Kenady, 29, to bring him a beer outside. She had poured the drink and was stepping outside to playfully yell at that patron when Stooges suddenly went dark.
“The power went out so I looked back into the bar. Then as I turned around again to go outside, I saw the plane go down in flames,” Kenady told NBC News.
“It was the perfect view, the most terrifying view,” she said. “I panicked and started screaming to everybody inside, the plane was crashing and everyone ran outside. It was like a movie. It wasn’t real.”
Beshear said the restaurant is now assisting with search-and-recovery efforts and had opened its doors to first responders.
“We’re grateful for them,” Beshear said. “Another blessing is that this plane could have potentially hit the major Ford factory or the convention center.”
Stooges owner Debbie Self, 76, first opened the restaurant in 1983 and cited divine intervention for keeping her place and customers safe.
“God wrapped his arms around my building,” Self said. “A 100 yards and the whole building would have been gone and everybody in it.”
Adrienne Broaddus, Ava Kelley, Colin Sheeley, Tavleen Tarrant, Jean Lee and Marin Scott contributed.
