A UPS weight aeroplane crash in Louisville, Kentucky, left at least four people dead and eleven injured after a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 erupted in flames moments after takeoff.
The aircraft, Flight 2976, had just departed Muhammad Ali International Airport for Honolulu when it went down in a near artificial area, exploding on impact and kindling 38,000 gallons of spurt energy.
Governor Andy Beshear called it a “catastrophic crash,” adding, “Anybody who has seen the images and the video knows how violent this crash is, and there are a lot of families that are going to be waiting and wondering for a period of time.”
Fireball Engulfs Buildings
Eyewitnesses reported a loud roar, followed by a bright flash, before the jet plummeted. “It looked like the plane was struggling to gain altitude, then it just dropped like a stone,” said one airport worker.
The aircraft struck two near businesses, Kentucky Petroleum Recycling and Grade A Auto Parts, sparking a huge fire that transferred black bank across the megacity. Exigency crews rushed to contain the conflagration as enchantresses echoed through southern Louisville.
Mayor Craig Greenberg said, “Rachel and I are praying for victims… We have every emergency agency responding to the scene. There are multiple injuries, and the fire is still burning.”
Footage of UPS cargo plane crash while taking off and carrying 280,000 gallons of jet fuel.
Plume of smoke is still trailing from Muhammad Ali International to downtown and the Ohio River.
Order of shelter in place is extended beyond a 5 mile radius.
— Charlie Cy (@Charlie27Cy) November 5, 2025
Authorities issued a sanctum-in-place order within a five-mile radius due to poisonous fumes, while sections of Grade Lane were closed indefinitely.
The Muhammad Ali International Airport, home to UPS’s massive Worldport installation, suspended all operations as firefighters battled the debris.
UPS confirmed, “At this time, we have not confirmed any injuries/casualties,” and said the NTSB would take over the investigation.
Investigation Begins Into Fatal Cargo Plane Crash
The Federal Aviation Administration( FAA) said the aeroplane carried three crew members and crashed shortly after departure under clear skies and light wind.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has deployed a “go team” to recover the flight data recorders and determine the cause of the incident.
The MD-11, a long-serving wide-body weight spurt, has a history of fatal incidents. Since 1991, at least ten analogous crashes have occurred worldwide. The aircraft involved had flown further than 80,000 hours without any previous problems.
Governor Beshear activated Kentucky’s Emergency Operations Centre, while hazmat crews monitored air quality and fuel runoff.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on X, “Please join me in prayer for the Louisville community and flight crew impacted by this horrific crash.”
Louisville, home to UPS’s largest logistics hub, is now left grappling with loss, shock, and unanswered questions.
