UPS Plane Crash in Kentucky Adds to Deadly Year of Air Travel

The crash of a United Parcel Service Inc. cargo jet on Tuesday jet has added to a growing number of deadly or near-catastrophic air incidents, in what is shaping up to be among the deadliest years in the past decade for civil aviation.

A UPS freighter jet crashed and exploded shortly after takeoff from Louisville, Kentucky, killing three crew members and at least four people on the ground. At least 11 people were also injured, and the number of casualties is likely to increase, authorities said.

The aircraft involved was a McDonnell Douglas MD-11, a long out-of-production model that’s no ...