Tragic Crash of UPS Cargo Plane Claims Lives in Louisville

Wed Nov 05 2025 17:57:52 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A UPS cargo plane crash in Louisville, Kentucky, led to the death of at least seven individuals and left numerous others injured, raising concerns about air safety and local community impact.

On Tuesday evening, a UPS cargo plane tragically crashed during takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, resulting in the deaths of at least seven people, most likely including the flight crew. The incident also injured at least eleven others and ignited a fire that engulfed nearby businesses, prompting an immediate response from emergency services. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has initiated an investigation as local officials express concerns over potential further hazards in the vicinity.

Seven people were killed when a UPS cargo plane crashed while taking off from an airport in Louisville, Kentucky on Tuesday evening, the state's governor said.

At least 11 other people were injured when the freight plane exploded as it departed Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport at around 17:15 local time (22:15 GMT), sending thick plumes of black smoke into the sky.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said the plane's three crew members were likely to be among the dead, adding that, Anyone who has seen the images and the video knows how violent this crash is.

Officials warned that people suffered very significant injuries in the incident and the death toll could rise.

UPS flight 2976 bound for Honolulu, Hawaii was carrying 38,000 gallons (144,000 litres) of fuel when it skidded off the runway in Louisville and struck nearby buildings.

The explosion engulfed at least two nearby businesses, including a petroleum recycling company. A shelter-in-place order was initially issued for within five miles of the airport due to concerns of further explosions and air pollution, but was later reduced to just one mile.

All departing flights for Tuesday evening were cancelled, the airport said in a statement on X.

Louisville Fire Dept Chief Brian O'Neill said the fire has almost entirely been contained, with crews still deployed at the crash site.

He added: When you have such a large scale incident and fire that spread over such a massive area, we have to use hundreds of personnel to surround it, contain it, and then slowly bring it in.

At a press conference, Beshear warned people not to go to the crash site, saying that, There are still dangerous things that are flammable, that are potentially explosive.

Beshear said he would not speculate as to what caused the incident, adding that the National Transportation Safety Bureau (NTSB) would be leading the investigation.

The NTSB's investigative team is scheduled to arrive in Kentucky on Wednesday.

Louisville Metro Police Dept Chief Paul Humphrey said that the crash site will be an ongoing active scene for the next several days.

He added: We don't know how long it's going to take to render that scene safe for the investigation to take place.

The aircraft was a MD-11F, a triple-engine jet that started service 34 years ago with Thai Airways as a passenger jet, but was transferred to UPS in 2006.

In 2023, FedEx and UPS both announced plans to begin retiring their fleets of MD-11s over the next decade as part of plans to modernise their fleets.

UPS said it was terribly saddened by the incident and would be halting package sorting operations at its Worldport hub in Louisville for the evening.

Louisville is home to UPS Worldport, a global hub for the delivery firm's air cargo operations and its largest package handling facility in the world.

Many in the community are personally affected by the tragedy, with local officials emphasizing the collective grief and the importance of support for all individuals impacted.