Wed Nov 05 01:37:22 UTC 2025: Summary:

A UPS cargo plane, a 34-year-old MD-11, crashed and exploded during takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Louisville, Kentucky, on November 4, 2025. The crash killed at least nine people, with the possibility of more fatalities. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of the accident. Initial video footage showed flames and smoke emanating from the left wing before the plane crashed and exploded. Several buildings near the runway also caught fire. The airport has reopened to air traffic, except for the affected runway, which will remain closed for about 10 days.

News Article:

Nine Dead in UPS Cargo Plane Crash at Louisville Airport

Louisville, KY – November 5, 2025 – A UPS cargo plane crashed and exploded shortly after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on Tuesday evening, killing at least nine people. The 34-year-old MD-11 aircraft, bound for Honolulu, went down around 5:13 p.m. ET, engulfing the area in flames and smoke.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg confirmed the recovery of nine bodies from the crash site, while Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear warned that the death toll could rise. Eleven victims were transported to local hospitals.

Video footage of the incident shows flames emanating from the left wing of the plane before it briefly lifted off the ground and then crashed in a massive fireball. The impact also damaged nearby buildings.

The National Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation into the cause of the crash. One key area of focus will be why one engine appeared to have separated from the plane prior to the accident, according to a source briefed on the matter.

The airport has reopened to air traffic, except for the runway where the crash occurred, which is expected to remain closed for approximately 10 days. UPS temporarily halted package sorting operations at its Louisville facility but has not yet confirmed if those operations have resumed.

This is the first UPS cargo plane crash since 2013, when an Airbus aircraft crashed during landing in Birmingham, Alabama, resulting in the deaths of both crew members.

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