Local News
Victims reported after UPS cargo plane crash near Louisville
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Jefferson County) — A tragic aviation accident occurred Tuesday evening, November 4, when a UPS cargo plane, identified as Flight 2976, crashed shortly after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky.
The McDonnell Douglas MD-11 aircraft, bound for Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, Hawaii, went down around 5:15 p.m. local time, sparking massive fires and explosions near Grade Lane and Fern Valley Road, just southeast of the airport.
Dramatic video footage captured the moment the plane descended rapidly and struck several buildings, erupting into a fireball that sent thick plumes of smoke into the sky.
Multiple structures were set ablaze, and first responders confirmed partial building collapses in the immediate area of impact.
Emergency radio traffic indicated that third-alarm units were dispatched to the scene as firefighters battled intense flames and began search-and-rescue operations within the damaged buildings.
Authorities confirmed reports of people trapped at an undisclosed location, with preliminary accounts suggesting up to 25 individuals may be trapped at or near 4564 Knopp Avenue.
UPS confirmed that three crew members were on board Flight 2976 at the time of the crash.
As of Tuesday evening, no official confirmation of injuries or fatalities had been released.
The company issued a statement expressing deep concern and emphasizing that its “primary focus is the safety and well-being of our employees and the surrounding community.”
The Louisville Metro Police Department and Louisville Fire Department established a large emergency perimeter and issued a shelter-in-place order for all locations within a five-mile radius of the airport, urging residents and businesses to remain indoors and avoid the affected area due to hazardous smoke and debris.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that Flight 2976 lost contact with air traffic control shortly after departure.
Both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched investigations into the cause of the crash.
The NTSB will lead the investigation and provide regular updates as information becomes available.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear acknowledged the tragedy on social media, stating:
“We are aware of a reported plane crash near Louisville International Airport. First responders are on site, and we will share more information as available. Please pray for the pilots, crew, and everyone affected.”
The crash occurred near UPS’s Worldport, the company’s largest air freight hub and global sorting facility, located adjacent to the airport.
The 5.2 million-square-foot facility handles more than 300 daily flights, processes over 400,000 packages per hour, and employs approximately 20,000 workers across the greater Louisville metropolitan area.
As of late Tuesday night, multiple fires remain active, and emergency teams continue to search the wreckage while working to stabilize affected buildings.
The NTSB is expected to arrive on scene early Wednesday to begin a comprehensive investigation into the cause of the crash.
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.