Cargo Jet Crashes Near Louisville Airport
3 Crew Killed, 11 Injured as Fireball Engulfs Industrial Zone
Louisville, Kentucky (November 5, 2025):
Tragedy struck near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on Monday evening when a United Parcel Service (UPS) cargo jet crashed shortly after takeoff, killing all three crew members on board and injuring at least 11 people on the ground. The aircraft, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 freighter, exploded into a massive fireball moments after impact, sending thick black smoke billowing into the evening sky and plunging the nearby industrial area into chaos.
Moments Before Disaster
Flight UPS 2976 had departed from Runway 17R at approximately 5:15 p.m. local time, bound for Honolulu. According to flight tracking data, the 34-year-old aircraft reached a maximum altitude of barely 175 feet before it suddenly lost altitude and plummeted into a cluster of commercial buildings roughly a mile from the end of the runway.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing a bright flash erupt from the right engine seconds after takeoff, followed by a loud explosion and an enormous orange fireball as the aircraft hit the ground. Cellphone footage circulating on social media shows the burning wreckage scattering across a wide area.
“It was like a bomb going off,” said Mark Daniels, a delivery driver who was parked near the airport perimeter at the time. “The sky lit up orange, and within seconds you could feel the heat from the flames.”
Destruction on the Ground
The plane crashed directly into two commercial establishments — a waste management facility operated by GFL Environmental and a Grade A Auto Parts warehouse nearby. While authorities confirmed no workers were inside the GFL facility at the time, two employees from the auto parts warehouse remain missing.
Emergency responders rushed to the scene as massive flames, fueled by nearly 38,000 gallons of jet fuel, consumed the wreckage and surrounding structures. Firefighters fought for over three hours to bring the blaze under control amid repeated explosions from burning debris.
At least 11 people on the ground sustained injuries, including two in critical condition who were transported to UofL Health Hospital for burn and trauma treatment.
Louisville Metro Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel described the aftermath as “absolute devastation,” noting that the impact scattered debris across several blocks. “It’s a scene of unimaginable destruction. Our first responders are doing everything possible to locate any survivors,” she said.
Emergency Measures and Response
In the immediate aftermath, a shelter-in-place order was issued for residents within a five-mile radius, later reduced to one mile as air quality levels stabilized. Several nearby roads were shut down, and electricity to parts of the industrial park was temporarily cut off.
Operations at the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport—home to UPS’s Worldport, the company’s global air freight hub—were suspended until at least 7 a.m. Tuesday, severely disrupting national logistics. The Worldport facility employs more than 26,000 people and handles millions of packages daily. Industry sources warned that widespread delivery delays could ripple across the United States in the coming days.
Official Reactions
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear called the crash “a catastrophic tragedy,” expressing condolences to the victims’ families. “Our hearts are with the UPS team and the loved ones of those who lost their lives,” he said, adding that the full extent of the damage is still being assessed.
A UPS spokesperson confirmed that the aircraft carried three crew members and no hazardous materials. “We are deeply saddened by this tragedy. Our focus right now is on supporting the families of those affected and assisting investigators in every possible way,” the statement read.
Boeing, the manufacturer of the MD-11 aircraft, pledged technical support to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which has launched a full-scale investigation.
Preliminary Investigation and Aircraft Details
The ill-fated aircraft, tail number N253UP, had earlier arrived from Baltimore and was preparing for an 8.5-hour flight across the Pacific. Preliminary findings indicate a possible engine failure during the initial climb, though officials cautioned that it’s too early to determine the exact cause.
NTSB officials, led by investigator Robert Sumner, are expected to spend several days at the crash site collecting data, cockpit voice recordings, and flight data information. A preliminary report will be released within 30 days, while a final report on the probable cause may take 12 to 24 months to complete.
History of UPS Crashes
This incident marks the third fatal crash involving a UPS cargo aircraft since 2006. The most recent occurred in 2013, when a UPS Airbus A300 crashed during approach to Birmingham, Alabama, killing both pilots.
Given the severity of Monday’s crash, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has temporarily grounded all UPS-operated MD-11 freighters pending safety inspections and a technical review of the fleet.
Community Impact
Local schools in Jefferson County have canceled classes for Tuesday as authorities continue cleanup and recovery operations. Major roadways, including Preston Highway and Outer Loop, remain closed. Residents reported feeling the ground tremble from the blast and described a “deafening explosion” that shattered windows miles away.
For many in Louisville, a city deeply tied to UPS’s operations, the disaster has left a mark of shock and sorrow. “This city runs on the sound of planes in the sky,” said Marsha Turner, a longtime airport worker. “Tonight, that sound was replaced by silence and grief.”
As investigators sift through the wreckage, the nation’s attention turns to how such a tragedy unfolded at one of America’s busiest air cargo hubs — and what lessons may emerge to prevent another.
