Local News
Wife of UPS Pilot Fears the Worst Following Plane Crash near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport
Louisville, KY — A woman has come forward expressing deep concern for her husband, a UPS pilot, who was scheduled to depart Louisville around the same time as the fatal crash of UPS Flight 2976 on Tuesday evening.
According to a message shared with a local news anchor, the woman said she has not heard from her husband since the incident and fears the worst.
Authorities have not yet released the identities of the three crew members aboard the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 cargo aircraft, which crashed shortly after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport at approximately 5:15 p.m. local time.
The aircraft, operating as UPS Flight 2976, 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 a nearby building.
Emergency crews responded to the scene as flames engulfed several structures. Louisville Metro Police confirmed there are victims, though the number of casualties has not yet been specified.
A shelter-in-place order was issued for all locations within a five-mile radius of the airport as first responders worked to control the fires and conduct searches of affected buildings.
UPS confirmed that Flight 2976 was carrying three crew members at the time of the crash.
The company stated it is cooperating fully with federal investigators and is focused on contacting the families of those involved.
“We are working closely with authorities and will provide updates as more information becomes available,” a UPS spokesperson said.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched a joint investigation into the crash, with the NTSB taking the lead and expected to release further details as the inquiry progresses.
Louisville’s UPS Worldport facility — the company’s largest air hub — is a critical component of global logistics operations, handling more than 300 flights daily and employing over 20,000 people in the region.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear addressed 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 it becomes available. Please pray for the pilots, crew, and everyone affected.”
Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the crash as the community awaits confirmation of the identities of those on board.
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.