Federal safety investigators have successfully retrieved the ‘black box’ recorders from the wreckage of a UPS cargo plane that crashed in Louisville, Kentucky, claiming the lives of 12 individuals. The incident occurred during takeoff on Tuesday evening, when the 34-year-old MD-11 freighter, bound for Honolulu, burst into flames shortly after clearing the runway fence. The crash ignited a series of fires, including a petroleum recycling facility, and scattered debris across a half-mile radius. The Louisville airport reopened on Wednesday, but the affected runway will remain closed for ten days. Todd Inman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed that the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder were intact and will be analyzed in Washington, D.C. The NTSB aims to issue a preliminary report within 30 days, though a full investigation could take up to two years. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency to expedite disaster response efforts. The crash disrupted operations at UPS Worldport, the company’s global air cargo hub, but services are expected to resume by Thursday morning. Investigators are focusing on the plane’s left engine, which detached during the crash, as a potential factor in the accident. Boeing and GE Aerospace have pledged support to the investigation. This marks the first UPS cargo plane crash since 2013.