Local News
New Dashcam footage shows UPS Flight 2976 plane crash in Louisville
Newly released dashcam footage has captured the terrifying moment UPS Cargo Flight 2976 plummeted from the sky and exploded into a massive fireball near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on Tuesday evening.
The footage shows the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 cargo jet descending rapidly before erupting upon impact, sending flames and debris soaring into the air and igniting multiple buildings in a nearby industrial area.
The crash site, located near Grade Lane and Fern Valley Road, was immediately engulfed in thick black smoke as workers were seen running for their lives. Emergency sirens filled the area as firefighters and rescue crews rushed to the burning wreckage.
Authorities have confirmed that at least 12 people have been killed, including a young child, while 15 others were injured and 16 remain unaccounted for. Officials have cautioned that the death toll is expected to rise as recovery operations continue.
Governor Andy Beshear described the incident as โcatastrophic,โ urging the public to pray for the victims, their families, and the first responders. โThat number is going to get larger,โ the governor said during a press briefing, referencing the rising casualty count as crews search through the wreckage.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that UPS Flight 2976, operating a McDonnell Douglas MD-11, departed Louisville at approximately 5:15 p.m. local time bound for Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has assumed control of the investigation and will lead all updates moving forward.
According to NTSB officials, preliminary video analysis appears to show the planeโs left engine detaching from the wing during takeoff, moments before the crash.
This visual evidence will play a critical role in determining the cause of the accident.
Authorities have also confirmed the following updates:
- Death Toll: 12 confirmed fatalities, with additional victims expected.
- Reunification Center: Established at 2911 Taylor Blvd for affected families.
- Search and Rescue: Ongoing in surrounding structures.
- Shelter-in-Place: Now reduced to a ยผ-mile radius of the crash site.
- Airport Operations: One runway remains open; Runway 17R/35L is closed until November 15.
Meanwhile, Louisville Metro Police have issued a warning regarding scammers attempting to exploit grieving families by posing as investigators and demanding payment in exchange for information about missing loved ones.
Authorities urge anyone receiving such communications to report them immediately to LMPD at 502-574-LMPD (5673) and not to send money under any circumstances.
Dashcam recordings from a nearby truck driver also captured the explosion, showing a massive shockwave shaking nearby vehicles as fire engulfed the surrounding area.
The footage, now being reviewed by investigators, offers a chilling firsthand perspective of one of the most devastating aviation accidents in Louisvilleโs history.
UPS has confirmed that three crew members were on board the aircraft at the time of the crash.
Their identities have not yet been released pending notification of next of kin. The company stated it is โdeeply saddened by this tragedyโ and is fully cooperating with federal authorities as the investigation continues.
Louisvilleโs Worldport facility, UPSโs global air hub, remains operational with limited capacity.
The company, which employs over 20,000 people in the region, handles more than 300 flights daily and sorts over 400,000 packages an hour.
Governor Beshear expressed condolences on social media, saying, โPlease pray for the pilots, crew, and everyone affected. First responders are onsite, and we will share more information as available.โ
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 cityโs historic fishing community.
The U.S. Coast Guard was alerted early Friday morning by the vesselโs 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. โ 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 Gloucesterโs historic fishing community.
The Lily Jean, a commercial fishing vessel measuring between 72 and 80 feet in length and homeported in Gloucesterโthe nationโs oldest working fishing portโactivated 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. โShe put her heart and soul into this opportunity,โ 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 Gloucesterโs close-knit maritime community.
Ashley Sullivan, a local business owner who knew the vesselโs owner, emphasized the daily risks faced by commercial fishermen. โI hope people really take a moment to understand the sacrifices these men and women make to put food on our tables,โ she said. โThis is heartbreaking.โ
Massachusetts State Senator Bruce Tarr also expressed condolences, highlighting Gloucesterโs deep fishing heritage. โGloucester has a long fishing history, and that history includes tragic loss,โ Tarr said. โIt appears we are experiencing another of those painful chapters.โ
Governor Maura Healey released a statement saying she was โheartbroken over the devastating news out of Gloucester,โ adding that her administration has offered full assistance to local officials and the Coast Guard. She extended prayers to the victimsโ 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: โThe salt has been in our blood for generationsโฆ A man is not lost while the sea remembers his name. Fair winds and following seas.โ
The Lily Jean had previously been featured on the History Channel series NorโEaster Men, which documented the dangers and demands of New Englandโs 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 victimsโ families and Gloucesterโs fishing community in their thoughts and prayers during this period of profound loss.