At Least Three Killed, Eleven Injured After UPS Cargo Plane Crash Near Louisville Airport
LOUISVILLE, KY — At least three people have been confirmed dead and eleven others injured following the crash of a UPS cargo plane near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on Tuesday evening, November 4.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear cautioned that the number of casualties is expected to rise as emergency crews continue their search and recovery operations in the affected area.
The aircraft, identified as UPS Flight 2976, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11, crashed shortly after takeoff around 5:15 p.m. local time.
The plane 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 at least one commercial building.
Emergency responders described the scene as chaotic, with several structures engulfed in flames and heavy smoke visible for miles.
Fire officials declared a third-alarm response, requesting additional units to contain the fire and search for survivors. Utility crews worked to secure power lines while foam suppression units were deployed to manage fuel fires.
Authorities confirmed that three crew members were on board the aircraft.
UPS has not yet released their names, stating that they are in the process of notifying families.
“At this time, we have not confirmed the condition of our crewmembers,” UPS said in a statement. “Our focus is on cooperating fully with authorities and supporting the families affected by this tragic event.”
In an emotional development, the wife of a UPS pilot contacted a local news station, expressing fear that her husband may have been among those on board.
She stated that her husband was scheduled to depart Louisville around the same time as Flight 2976 and that she has not heard from him since the crash.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that UPS Flight 2976 was the aircraft involved and announced that both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will conduct a full investigation.
The NTSB will lead the inquiry and provide all official updates as evidence is collected from the crash site.
A shelter-in-place order was issued for all locations within a five-mile radius of the airport due to hazardous debris and ongoing fire hazards.
Louisville Metro Police urged residents to avoid the area as rescue teams continued to assess structural damage and search for those possibly trapped.
Unconfirmed reports suggested that as many as 25 people may have been trapped in a nearby building following the crash.
Louisville serves as the global logistics hub for UPS, housing its Worldport facility, the company’s largest air hub.
The 5.2 million-square-foot complex handles more than 300 daily flights, sorts over 400,000 packages per hour, and employs more than 20,000 workers in the region.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear released a statement following the tragedy, saying, “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.”
As the investigation continues, local, state, and federal agencies remain on scene, working to determine the cause of the crash and assist affected families.
