Local News
Dashcam footage shows truck driver reacting to deadly UPS plane crash in Louisville
LOUISVILLE, KY — The death toll from Tuesday’s devastating UPS cargo plane crash near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport has climbed to seven, with officials warning that the number could rise further as search and recovery operations continue.
The McDonnell Douglas MD-11, operating as UPS Flight 2976, crashed shortly after takeoff at approximately 5:15 p.m. local time on Tuesday, November 4, erupting into a massive fireball that engulfed several nearby buildings in flames.
The aircraft was bound for Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear confirmed at least seven fatalities and eleven injuries as of late Tuesday, adding that “the number is going to get larger” due to the scale of destruction at the crash site.
Emergency responders are still conducting search operations in a heavily damaged industrial zone adjacent to the airport.
Newly released dashcam footage shows the chilling moment of impact, capturing a truck driver’s reaction as the plane descended with flames trailing from its left wing before exploding upon contact with the ground.
Aerial images depict large plumes of black smoke billowing over the Grade Lane and Fern Valley Road area, where multiple structures sustained severe damage or total collapse.
Witnesses reported a series of secondary explosions, believed to have been triggered by aviation fuel igniting upon impact.
The crash struck a petroleum recycling facility and severely damaged an adjacent auto parts business, where two employees remain unaccounted for.
First responders issued a third-alarm response, calling in multiple fire, hazmat, and rescue units from across Jefferson County.
Crews are working to extinguish lingering fires, secure unstable structures, and conduct thorough searches for trapped victims.
A shelter-in-place order remains in effect for all residents within a five-mile radius of the airport due to heavy smoke and potential air quality hazards.
Power in the immediate area has been cut off, and officials have warned the public to stay away from the crash zone until it is deemed safe.
A spokesperson for UPS confirmed that three crew members were aboard Flight 2976 and said the company is “deeply saddened by the tragic event.” The statement added:
“At this time, we are working closely with authorities to determine the cause of the incident and to contact the families of those affected. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will lead the investigation and provide official updates as they become available.”
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has also confirmed its participation in the investigation, working alongside the NTSB to analyze flight data, maintenance records, and communication logs.
Among those anxiously awaiting updates is a woman who identified herself as the wife of a UPS pilot, who told a local news anchor that her husband was scheduled to depart Louisville around the same time as the crash.
She stated she has not received any communication from him since the incident, fearing the worst as authorities work to identify the victims.
Louisville serves as the home of UPS Worldport, the company’s largest global air logistics hub.
The 5.2 million-square-foot facility handles more than 300 daily flights, sorts over 400,000 packages per hour, and employs over 20,000 people in the region.
The crash has deeply affected the city, where UPS is the largest employer.
Governor Beshear issued a public statement late Tuesday night:
“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 available. Please pray for the pilots, crew, and everyone affected by this tragic event.”
As the investigation continues, officials have vowed transparency in uncovering the cause of the crash.
Recovery crews remain on-site through the night as Louisville mourns one of the most devastating aviation disasters in its history.
UPDATE: Search efforts have been suspended following the sinking of the commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean off the coast of Gloucester, Massachusetts, marking another tragic loss for the city’s historic fishing community.
The U.S. Coast Guard was alerted early Friday morning by the vessel’s emergency beacon after it activated in the water; no mayday call was received.
Responders located a debris field, an unoccupied life raft, and one deceased individual in the water.
Six other crew members remain missing and are presumed lost after an extensive air and sea search yielded no additional results.
The Coast Guard cited frigid water temperatures, challenging weather conditions, and the vast search area in its decision to suspend operations.
GLOUCESTER, Mass. — Authorities have identified all seven individuals who lost their lives after the commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean sank approximately 25 miles off Cape Ann, Massachusetts, early Friday morning, marking a devastating loss for Gloucester’s historic fishing community.
The Lily Jean, a commercial fishing vessel measuring between 72 and 80 feet in length and homeported in Gloucester—the nation’s oldest working fishing port—activated its emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) at approximately 6:50 a.m. Friday while returning to port.
No mayday call was received, and subsequent attempts to contact the vessel were unsuccessful.
The U.S. Coast Guard immediately launched a large-scale search and rescue operation, deploying an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and multiple surface assets to the area of the distress signal.
Crews located a debris field and an unoccupied life raft roughly 25 miles offshore near the EPIRB activation site, confirming the vessel had sunk to the ocean floor. One deceased individual was recovered from the water.
The remaining six crew members were later presumed lost after extensive search efforts yielded no additional results.
Officials confirmed that seven people were aboard the vessel at the time of the incident, revising earlier reports that indicated six.
The seven individuals who perished aboard the Lily Jean are:
- John Paul Rousanidis, 33, of Salem/Peabody, Massachusetts
- Sean Therrien, 44, of Lynn/Peabody, Massachusetts
- Freeman Short, of the Marshfield/Scituate area
- Captain Gus Sanfilippo, a well-known and respected Gloucester fisherman
- Paul Beal Sr., deckhand
- Paul Beal Jr., deckhand and son of Paul Beal Sr.
- Jada Samitt, 22, of Virginia
Jada Samitt, the seventh crew member identified, was serving aboard the vessel in the role of a federal fisheries observer with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). She had recently relocated to Massachusetts to pursue her passion for environmental biology, graduating last year. Family members said joining the Lily Jean crew was her first major professional role at sea and a lifelong dream.
Her aunt, Heather Michaels, described Samitt as a compassionate and driven young woman who deeply respected her captain and dedicated herself fully to her work. “She put her heart and soul into this opportunity,” family members said, noting her commitment to marine conservation and the fishing community.
Officials said the Lily Jean had reported taking on water shortly before contact was lost.
The vessel is now presumed fully submerged.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through Gloucester’s close-knit maritime community.
Ashley Sullivan, a local business owner who knew the vessel’s owner, emphasized the daily risks faced by commercial fishermen. “I hope people really take a moment to understand the sacrifices these men and women make to put food on our tables,” she said. “This is heartbreaking.”
Massachusetts State Senator Bruce Tarr also expressed condolences, highlighting Gloucester’s deep fishing heritage. “Gloucester has a long fishing history, and that history includes tragic loss,” Tarr said. “It appears we are experiencing another of those painful chapters.”
Governor Maura Healey released a statement saying she was “heartbroken over the devastating news out of Gloucester,” adding that her administration has offered full assistance to local officials and the Coast Guard. She extended prayers to the victims’ families and the broader fishing community across Cape Ann and the Commonwealth.
Community members and local businesses have continued to share messages of remembrance and solidarity. Taylor Hunt, a relative of Freeman Short, posted a tribute honoring the crew, writing in part: “The salt has been in our blood for generations… A man is not lost while the sea remembers his name. Fair winds and following seas.”
The Lily Jean had previously been featured on the History Channel series Nor’Easter Men, which documented the dangers and demands of New England’s commercial fishing industry.
While search operations have concluded, the Coast Guard and relevant agencies continue to review the circumstances surrounding the sinking. Officials have stated that further updates will be released as additional information becomes available.
Authorities have urged the public to keep the victims’ families and Gloucester’s fishing community in their thoughts and prayers during this period of profound loss.