Louisville bar owner describes aftermath of UPS plane crash as 'war zone'

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — A UPS cargo plane crashed and erupted in flames shortly after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport Tuesday evening, killing at least 13 people and shredding through an industrial area near the airport.

Just feet from the path of devastation, Stooges Bar and Grill, a longtime neighborhood establishment, still stands.

Its owner, Debbie Self, said her staff quickly evacuated in the chaotic moments after the crash. She has only been allowed back into the building once to open the doors for emergency crews who she's allowing to use the facilities as they comb through the rubble.

"They're going into a war zone," she said. "It looks like Stooges is sitting in a war zone, and I don't know why it was saved. I don't know. And the things that they got to do, the rubble, they got to pick up... that's the least I can do."

Stooges has launched a GoFundMe to help employees through the holiday season, and neighbors have volunteered aid and services.

Self said she remains uncertain about the future of her business. “I don't know what's going to happen. I just don't know,” she said. "We'll get it open, we'll do it."

The hard part for Stooges, and so many other businesses in the area of the crash, is not knowing when business can resume. Officials and investigators have a large portion of the area closed.

"They're working hard," she emphasized. "I mean, going through rubble like that, they're working hard. And I know that the federal government's in there, and they're working hard too, and everybody is. They're doing over and beyond, and I know that, and I don't want to beat nobody up. Just tell us something. Tell us, 'Hey, Deb, gonna be a month. Might be two months.' Haven't even got that."

The 43 employees at Stooges are still being paid, but a large percentage of their paycheck comes from tips, Self pointed out.

O Dolly's Restaurant, which is owned by Self's daughter, is hosting a fundraiser for Stooges employees next Thursday, Nov. 13.

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