Local News
Louisnes Fedon and his granddaughter killed in UPS plane crash in Louisville
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY — Family and friends are mourning the tragic loss of Louisnes “Lou” Fedon and his young granddaughter Kimberly Asa, who were among the victims killed in the UPS Flight 2976 plane crash near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on November 4, 2025.
Family friends Jason and Brandi Mattingly have launched an appeal for urgent community support to assist Shayna and Sheldon Hall, the teenage children of Sharon Hall, following this devastating and unforeseen tragedy.
According to the Mattinglys, Lou Fedon and his granddaughter Kimberly Asa were innocently caught in the wrong place at the wrong time when the UPS cargo plane — a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 — plummeted from the sky and exploded into a massive fireball, destroying multiple structures in an industrial area near Grade Lane and Fern Valley Road.
Lou was far more than a grandfather and father — he was a cornerstone of daily life for Shayna and Sheldon.
His death has left a profound emotional and logistical void that the family is struggling to fill.
He provided essential day-to-day support, including:
- Transportation: Lou personally drove from Louisville, KY to New Albany, IN every school day, ensuring Shayna and Sheldon made it to and from school safely. He also transported them to regular medical appointments each month.
- Basic Necessities: Lou covered essential household services such as cell phone plans and other vital expenses that supported the family’s daily stability.
In the wake of this heartbreaking loss, the family is seeking the community’s help to provide immediate stability for Shayna and Sheldon as they grieve and rebuild.
Donations will go directly to their mother, Sharon Hall, to assist with two key needs:
- Immediate Basic Needs: Covering ongoing living costs such as groceries, transportation for medical appointments, utility bills, and maintaining essential services like phone coverage.
- Reliable Transportation: Purchasing a dependable vehicle to ensure the children can continue attending school and medical appointments, restoring some independence following their father’s passing.
The Mattinglys wrote, “Every dollar helps ensure Shayna and Sheldon can focus on grieving and healing without the overwhelming burden of financial insecurity. Your generosity will help this family rebuild after an unimaginable tragedy.”
Newly released dashcam footage captured the horrifying moment UPS Cargo Flight 2976 plunged from the sky and erupted into flames near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport.
The footage shows the aircraft descending rapidly before exploding on impact, igniting several buildings and sending plumes of black smoke into the air.
Authorities confirmed that at least 12 people have been killed, including a child, while 15 others were injured and 16 remain unaccounted for.
Officials caution that the death toll is expected to rise as search and recovery efforts continue through the wreckage.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear described the crash as “catastrophic,” urging the public to pray for victims, families, and first responders. “That number is going to get larger,” he said, acknowledging the grim outlook as recovery operations proceed.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 cargo jet departed Louisville at approximately 5:15 p.m. bound for Honolulu.
Preliminary findings suggest the aircraft’s left engine detached from the wing during takeoff, moments before the crash — a key detail that will form part of the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) ongoing investigation.
- Fatalities: 12 confirmed; number expected to rise.
- Reunification Center: 2911 Taylor Blvd. established for affected families.
- Search and Rescue: Still underway in surrounding industrial structures.
- Shelter-in-Place: Reduced to a ¼-mile radius around the crash site.
- Airport Operations: One runway remains open; Runway 17R/35L closed until November 15.
Louisville Metro Police have issued a fraud alert, warning families of victims about scammers posing as investigators and demanding payment in exchange for information.
Officials stress that no legitimate agency will request money for updates and urge anyone contacted in such a manner to report the scam immediately to LMPD at (502) 574-LMPD (5673).
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.