Local News
Terrifying Footage Captures Moment UPS Flight 2976 Crashed Near Louisville Airport
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.
Local News
Three Killed in Highway 61 Crash Near Walls, Mississippi; Victims Identified as Latasha Dodson, Eddie Dodson, and Tamenshia Ford
WALLS, Mississippi — Three people were killed in a serious collision Wednesday evening near U.S. Highway 61 and Church Road in Walls, leaving multiple families grieving and a community mourning the sudden loss of their loved ones.
According to the Mississippi Highway Patrol, the crash occurred at approximately 8:04 p.m. and involved a 2021 Honda Accord and another vehicle driven by 27-year-old Da’Quarius M. Burton of Memphis, Tennessee.
Authorities identified the three people who died inside the Honda Accord as:
- Latasha N. Dodson, 37, of Horn Lake
- Eddie L. Dodson, 41, of Byhalia
- Tamenshia R. Ford, 32, of Horn Lake
All three victims were pronounced dead at the scene.
The crash also left two people injured. Da’Quarius M. Burton, who was driving the other vehicle, survived the collision, as did a fourth occupant of the Honda Accord whose identity has not yet been released.
Both survivors were transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. Officials have not provided an update on their conditions.
The circumstances leading up to the collision remain under investigation by the Mississippi Highway Patrol.
The tragedy has also deeply affected local law enforcement and public service communities. The DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that one of its juvenile detention officers was among those who died in the crash. Another employee was seriously injured.
In a statement, the Sheriff’s Office remembered its fallen employee as a respected and beloved member of the team who demonstrated kindness, compassion, and dedication to the young people entrusted to their care.
The department also recognized the lasting difference the employee made through their work and the positive influence they had on others.
Officials have not publicly identified which of the three victims worked for the Sheriff’s Office.
The Walls Police Department also confirmed that one of its patrol officers was involved in the collision. However, the department has not clarified the officer’s condition or released additional information about the circumstances surrounding their involvement.
The crash has therefore brought grief and concern to several public safety agencies, including the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office and the Walls Police Department.
The Mississippi Highway Patrol is continuing to investigate the crash near Highway 61 and Church Road. Authorities have not released a determination about what caused the vehicles to collide.
Further information may become available as investigators review the circumstances of the incident and complete their work.
The deaths of Latasha N. Dodson, Eddie L. Dodson, and Tamenshia R. Ford represent an enormous loss for their families, friends, and everyone who knew them.
Three individuals from different communities have now been lost in a single devastating incident. Their loved ones are left to face the difficult days ahead while holding on to the memories they shared.
The loss has also been felt by colleagues and members of the local public safety community, particularly those mourning the juvenile detention officer remembered for compassion and dedication to young people.
During this painful time, thoughts are with the families of all three victims, the injured survivors, and the employees of the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office and Walls Police Department.
May Latasha N. Dodson, Eddie L. Dodson, and Tamenshia R. Ford rest in peace.