A UPS MD-11 cargo plane carrying three crew members crashed near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky on Tuesday afternoon, sparking a massive fire. Local authorities said at least three people were killed and 11 others injured, according to the Associated Press.
“UPS Flight 2976 crashed around 5:15 p.m. local time on Tuesday, Nov. 4, after departing from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky,” the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement. The aircraft was en route to Honolulu, it added.
#Entérate… Tragedia aérea en Louisville, Kentucky: el vuelo 2976 de UPS, un McDonnell Douglas MD-11, se estrelló instantes después de despegar del Aeropuerto Internacional Muhammad Ali. pic.twitter.com/XtHyFqrCuA— Alfredo González (@alfredolez) November 5, 2025
Footage aired by local TV station WLKY showed a massive fireball as the plane hit the ground. A government source briefed on the incident said the video appeared to show the plane on fire as it moved along the runway before exploding.
UPS said it had not yet confirmed the number of casualties or injuries from the accident involving one of its MD-11 aircraft.
The crash took place near UPS Worldport, the company’s global air hub and its largest package-handling facility. The incident is expected to disrupt deliveries for UPS and major clients, including Amazon and the US Postal Service.
As night fell, aerial footage broadcast by WLKY showed flames spreading across nearly a mile of the crash site. The airport was temporarily closed, while Louisville Metro Police said emergency teams were responding to the scene.
“Kentucky, we are aware of a reported plane crash near Louisville International Airport. First responders are onsite, and we will share more information as available. Please pray for the pilots, crew and everyone affected. We will share more soon,” Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said on X.
Heartbreaking images coming out of Kentucky tonight. Here’s an update from @FAANews - UPS cargo flight 2976 - Crashed around 5:15 ET after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport en route to Honolulu - The aircraft was a McDonnell Douglas MD-11. Please… pic.twitter.com/yE1Brhv8cQ — Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) November 4, 2025
Beshear later described the crash as “catastrophic” and urged residents to avoid the area. “There may be people that still need to be rescued. Do not be the reason that the first responders cannot get to them,” he said, warning that “there are still dangerous things that are flammable, that are potentially explosive.”
Authorities stated that the plane was carrying approximately 38,000 gallons (roughly 144,000 liters) of fuel, weighing around 100,000 kilograms. The fire continued to burn late into the evening as firefighters worked to contain it.
The crash site includes a petroleum recycling facility and an auto parts business, raising concerns about secondary fires or explosions, although Beshear said the aircraft was not carrying hazardous cargo.
According to FAA records, the MD-11 freighter was 34 years old. Boeing, which owns the MD-11 program, declined to comment. FlightRadar24 data showed the plane had flown from Louisville to Baltimore earlier in the day before returning, and was scheduled to continue to Honolulu, a route that typically takes about eight and a half hours.
A shelter-in-place order was issued for nearby residents due to the ongoing fire and heavy smoke.
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