Thu Nov 06 05:52:00 UTC 2025: Louisville Cargo Plane Crash: At Least 12 Dead, Toll Expected to Rise
Louisville, KY – A UPS cargo plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on Tuesday, igniting a massive fireball and claiming the lives of at least 12 people. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear warned that the death toll is expected to climb as search and rescue efforts continue.
UPS Flight 2976, an MD-11 freighter bound for Honolulu, Hawaii, crashed around 5:20 PM local time, just 1.2 miles from the airport. Initial investigations and surveillance footage reveal that the left engine detached from the wing during takeoff, causing a fire that quickly spread.
The plane, carrying 144,000 liters of fuel, struck two businesses near the airport – Kentucky Petroleum Recycling and Grade A Auto Parts. While the nearby Ford Motor assembly plant experienced a temporary power outage, it was not directly hit.
“We have viewed airport CCTV security coverage, which shows the left engine detaching from the wing during the takeoff roll,” NTSB member Todd Inman said during a news conference Wednesday afternoon.
Investigators have recovered the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder and are transporting them to Washington, DC, for analysis. While the cause of the engine failure remains undetermined, authorities are exploring various possibilities.
Governor Beshear confirmed the 12 fatalities and said that 16 people are still unaccounted for. It is unclear whether the three crew members aboard the plane are included in the death toll. Eleven other people are being treated for injuries in local hospitals. Authorities have shifted their focus to recovery efforts and no longer expect to find survivors.
The airport resumed operations on Wednesday, with at least one runway open.
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