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.
Local News
Three Killed in Highway 61 Crash Near Walls, Mississippi; Victims Identified as Latasha Dodson, Eddie Dodson, and Tamenshia Ford
WALLS, Mississippi — Three people were killed in a serious collision Wednesday evening near U.S. Highway 61 and Church Road in Walls, leaving multiple families grieving and a community mourning the sudden loss of their loved ones.
According to the Mississippi Highway Patrol, the crash occurred at approximately 8:04 p.m. and involved a 2021 Honda Accord and another vehicle driven by 27-year-old Da’Quarius M. Burton of Memphis, Tennessee.
Authorities identified the three people who died inside the Honda Accord as:
- Latasha N. Dodson, 37, of Horn Lake
- Eddie L. Dodson, 41, of Byhalia
- Tamenshia R. Ford, 32, of Horn Lake
All three victims were pronounced dead at the scene.
The crash also left two people injured. Da’Quarius M. Burton, who was driving the other vehicle, survived the collision, as did a fourth occupant of the Honda Accord whose identity has not yet been released.
Both survivors were transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. Officials have not provided an update on their conditions.
The circumstances leading up to the collision remain under investigation by the Mississippi Highway Patrol.
The tragedy has also deeply affected local law enforcement and public service communities. The DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that one of its juvenile detention officers was among those who died in the crash. Another employee was seriously injured.
In a statement, the Sheriff’s Office remembered its fallen employee as a respected and beloved member of the team who demonstrated kindness, compassion, and dedication to the young people entrusted to their care.
The department also recognized the lasting difference the employee made through their work and the positive influence they had on others.
Officials have not publicly identified which of the three victims worked for the Sheriff’s Office.
The Walls Police Department also confirmed that one of its patrol officers was involved in the collision. However, the department has not clarified the officer’s condition or released additional information about the circumstances surrounding their involvement.
The crash has therefore brought grief and concern to several public safety agencies, including the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office and the Walls Police Department.
The Mississippi Highway Patrol is continuing to investigate the crash near Highway 61 and Church Road. Authorities have not released a determination about what caused the vehicles to collide.
Further information may become available as investigators review the circumstances of the incident and complete their work.
The deaths of Latasha N. Dodson, Eddie L. Dodson, and Tamenshia R. Ford represent an enormous loss for their families, friends, and everyone who knew them.
Three individuals from different communities have now been lost in a single devastating incident. Their loved ones are left to face the difficult days ahead while holding on to the memories they shared.
The loss has also been felt by colleagues and members of the local public safety community, particularly those mourning the juvenile detention officer remembered for compassion and dedication to young people.
During this painful time, thoughts are with the families of all three victims, the injured survivors, and the employees of the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office and Walls Police Department.
May Latasha N. Dodson, Eddie L. Dodson, and Tamenshia R. Ford rest in peace.