Seven people were killed and at least 11 others injured when a UPS cargo plane crashed and exploded shortly after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on Tuesday evening, officials said.
The MD-11F aircraft, operating as UPS Flight 2976 and bound for Honolulu, Hawaii, went down at around 5:15 p.m. local time (22:15 GMT), skidding off the runway and striking nearby buildings before bursting into flames. The plane was carrying 38,000 gallons (144,000 liters) of fuel at the time of the crash.
Witnesses reported a series of explosions as the plane ignited on impact, sending thick plumes of black smoke billowing over the city’s southern district. The fire engulfed several nearby businesses, including a petroleum recycling company, prompting a shelter-in-place order within a five-mile radius that was later reduced to one mile.
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Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear confirmed the fatalities late Tuesday, warning that the toll could rise. “Anyone who has seen the images and the video knows how violent this crash is,” Beshear said during a press conference. “Our hearts are with the families of those lost.”
Beshear also cautioned residents to stay away from the crash site, noting that hazardous and flammable materials were still present.
Louisville Fire Department Chief Brian O’Neill said emergency crews worked through the night to contain the inferno. ‘’When you have such a large-scale incident and a fire that spread over such a massive area, we have to use hundreds of personnel to surround it, contain it, and slowly bring it in,” O’Neill said.
He added that search teams were moving “grid by grid” through the wreckage to ensure all victims were accounted for.
The airport cancelled all departing flights for Tuesday evening as investigators and hazardous materials teams secured the area.
Governor Beshear said the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will lead the investigation into the cause of the crash. The agency’s investigative team is expected to arrive in Kentucky on Wednesday, officials confirmed.
Louisville Metro Police Chief Paul Humphrey said the crash site would remain “an active scene for several days.”
“We don’t know how long it’s going to take to render the scene safe for investigators,” Humphrey said.
Authorities have not released the identities of the victims but said the plane’s three crew members were likely among the dead.
The downed aircraft was a McDonnell Douglas MD-11F, a triple-engine jet first delivered to Thai Airways 34 years ago and converted to cargo use by UPS in 2006.
In a statement, Boeing said it was “ready to support our customer” and that its “concern is for the safety and well-being of all those affected.” The company said it will provide technical assistance to the NTSB investigation.
As recovery operations continue, investigators will examine the plane’s black box recorders, flight path, and maintenance history to determine the cause of the disaster.
Officials said it could take months before a full report is released. Meanwhile, Louisville’s aviation hub, a critical logistics base for UPS’s global air network, remains partially closed as cleanup and safety inspections proceed.
