Local News
At Least Three Killed, Eleven Injured After UPS Cargo Plane Crash Near Louisville Airport
LOUISVILLE, KY — At least three people have been confirmed dead and eleven others injured following the crash of a UPS cargo plane near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on Tuesday evening, November 4.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear cautioned that the number of casualties is expected to rise as emergency crews continue their search and recovery operations in the affected area.
The aircraft, identified as UPS Flight 2976, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11, crashed shortly after takeoff around 5:15 p.m. local time.
The plane was en route to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu when it went down near Grade Lane and Fern Valley Road, igniting multiple fires and causing a partial collapse of at least one commercial building.
Emergency responders described the scene as chaotic, with several structures engulfed in flames and heavy smoke visible for miles.
Fire officials declared a third-alarm response, requesting additional units to contain the fire and search for survivors. Utility crews worked to secure power lines while foam suppression units were deployed to manage fuel fires.
Authorities confirmed that three crew members were on board the aircraft.
UPS has not yet released their names, stating that they are in the process of notifying families.
“At this time, we have not confirmed the condition of our crewmembers,” UPS said in a statement. “Our focus is on cooperating fully with authorities and supporting the families affected by this tragic event.”
In an emotional development, the wife of a UPS pilot contacted a local news station, expressing fear that her husband may have been among those on board.
She stated that her husband was scheduled to depart Louisville around the same time as Flight 2976 and that she has not heard from him since the crash.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that UPS Flight 2976 was the aircraft involved and announced that both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will conduct a full investigation.
The NTSB will lead the inquiry and provide all official updates as evidence is collected from the crash site.
A shelter-in-place order was issued for all locations within a five-mile radius of the airport due to hazardous debris and ongoing fire hazards.
Louisville Metro Police urged residents to avoid the area as rescue teams continued to assess structural damage and search for those possibly trapped.
Unconfirmed reports suggested that as many as 25 people may have been trapped in a nearby building following the crash.
Louisville serves as the global logistics hub for UPS, housing its Worldport facility, the company’s largest air hub.
The 5.2 million-square-foot complex handles more than 300 daily flights, sorts over 400,000 packages per hour, and employs more than 20,000 workers in the region.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear released a statement following the tragedy, saying, “We are aware of a reported plane crash near Louisville International Airport. First responders are on-site, and we will share more information as it becomes available. Please pray for the pilots, crew, and everyone affected.”
As the investigation continues, local, state, and federal agencies remain on scene, working to determine the cause of the crash and assist affected families.
LOUISVILLE, KY — Dramatic video has surfaced showing the moment UPS Flight 2976, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 cargo aircraft, crashed shortly after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on Tuesday evening, November 4.
The crash resulted in at least three fatalities and eleven injuries, according to Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, who warned that “the number is going to get larger” as rescue and recovery operations continue.
The aircraft, operated by UPS and carrying three crew members, went down at approximately 5:15 p.m. local time, shortly after departing for Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu.
The plane crashed near Grade Lane and Fern Valley Road, causing a massive explosion that ignited multiple fires and led to the partial collapse of a commercial building.
First responders arrived to a scene of extensive devastation, with flames engulfing several structures and heavy black smoke visible from miles away.
Emergency crews issued a third-alarm response, calling for additional resources, including foam units to control aviation fuel fires.
Power to the area was cut off as a safety precaution, and search operations were launched to locate anyone trapped in surrounding buildings.
Police confirmed multiple victims at the scene, and unverified reports suggested as many as 25 people may have been trapped in a building near 4564 Knopp Avenue.
A shelter-in-place order remains in effect for all residents within a five-mile radius of the airport.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the downed aircraft as UPS Flight 2976, and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has taken charge of the investigation.
Both agencies will coordinate to determine the cause of the crash, with the NTSB expected to provide official updates in the coming days.
In a statement, UPS confirmed that the flight had three crew members on board and said that efforts are underway to contact family members.
“At this time, we have not confirmed any injuries or fatalities among our employees,” the company said. “We are working closely with authorities and will release verified information as it becomes available.”
Adding to the growing concern, a woman identifying herself as the wife of a UPS pilot contacted a local news station, expressing fear that her husband was among those on board.
She stated that he was scheduled to depart Louisville around the same time as Flight 2976 and that she has been unable to reach him since the crash.
Aerial footage shows the wreckage of the MD-11 engulfed in flames, with large secondary explosions occurring moments after impact.
Emergency crews can be seen battling the fires and evacuating nearby facilities as heavy equipment works to clear debris.
The Louisville Metro Police Department, along with fire and hazmat units, remain on scene conducting search and rescue efforts. Authorities have urged the public to avoid the area until further notice.
Louisville’s UPS Worldport facility, one of the largest air logistics hubs in the world, serves as the central hub for UPS’s global operations.
The 5.2 million-square-foot complex handles more than 300 daily flights and processes approximately 400,000 packages per hour, employing over 20,000 workers in the Louisville metropolitan area.
Governor Beshear issued a public statement following the crash:
“Kentucky, we are aware of the reported plane crash near Louisville International Airport. First responders are on site, and we will share more information as it becomes available. Please pray for the pilots, crew, and everyone affected.”
As the investigation unfolds, local, state, and federal agencies continue to coordinate emergency response operations, while families of UPS employees await official confirmation regarding the fate of those on board.