Crash near Louisville killed 15

A UPS cargo plane crashed seconds after takeoff in Louisville, Kentucky, last year. The accident killed three crew members on board and 12 people on the ground in an industrial area near the runway.

The incident has drawn attention to the safety of millions of Americans who live or work in proximity to airports. The Federal Aviation Administration has established minimum buffers to mitigate risks during aviation disasters. Experts say these measures are insufficient to protect homes and businesses.

Investigative reporter Joce Sterman examined federal crash data to identify where accidents occur and how frequently. The analysis revealed examples across the country of planes crashing into homes and neighborhood streets. These incidents often injure or kill people on the ground, not just those aboard the aircraft.

Sterman spoke with advocates pushing for industry-wide change. This group includes a Florida mayor whose city has experienced a series of close-proximity crashes. She also interviewed a mother grieving the loss of her four-year-old son. A plane struck the family’s car just feet from an airport, killing the boy.

A retired airline pilot and safety advocate offered potential solutions on both sides of the runway fence. The discussion focused on how to reduce the danger posed to residents living in the shadow of flight paths.

The report also covers a new federal study on carbon monoxide poisonings in southeast Louisiana. Investigators spent four years examining cases linked to backup generators used during power outages. The findings call for a major change in the distance required between generators and homes.

In a separate segment, rural communities are testing electric aircraft to improve emergency medical response times. A one-person aircraft can carry a paramedic and life-saving gear directly to a patient, bypassing road networks. In Charlotte, photojournalist Greg Simpson introduced a pilot involved in this initiative.