UPS Cargo Plane Crashes Near Louisville Airport, Injuries Reported
Louisville, Kentucky — A UPS cargo plane crashed shortly after taking off from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on Tuesday evening, leading to multiple injuries and a large emergency response, authorities said.
The McDonnell Douglas MD-11F cargo aircraft, operating as UPS Flight 2976 from Louisville to Honolulu, went down at approximately 5:15 p.m. local time near the industrial area surrounding the airport, officials confirmed. The plane struck several buildings, igniting large fires and sending plumes of thick black smoke into the sky, according to eyewitness accounts and social media footage.
“At approximately 5:20 p.m. ET tonight, UPS Flight 2976, an MD-11 with three crewmembers onboard, was involved in an accident in Louisville,” UPS stated on social media. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched a joint investigation into the cause of the crash.
The Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) described the scene as “active with fire and debris” near Fern Valley Road and Grade Lane, south of the airport. The department confirmed injuries have been reported but did not provide specific details on their severity or exact number.
In response to the incident, an emergency shelter-in-place order was issued for the area within a five-mile radius of the airport, instructing residents to stay indoors and avoid the vicinity. Grade Lane, a key local road near the crash site, was closed indefinitely between Stooges and Crittenden streets to allow emergency crews unhindered access.
Governor Andy Beshear issued a statement requesting prayers for the pilots, crew, and those impacted by the crash, describing the situation as serious and stating he was en route to Louisville to monitor the emergency response.
The MD-11F is a wide-body freighter version of the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 aircraft, commonly used by cargo carriers such as UPS, FedEx, and Lufthansa Cargo. The aircraft involved reportedly was carrying approximately 25,000 gallons of jet fuel at the time of the accident, contributing to the intensity of the fires at the crash site.
Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, home to UPS’s 5-million-square-foot Worldport hub, is temporarily closed as responders manage the incident and begin recovery operations.
Emergency teams from Louisville Metro Police, Louisville Fire, MetroSafe, and EMS, as well as other agencies, are actively working at the scene. The public is urged to avoid the area and comply with safety directives.
The circumstances leading to the crash remain under investigation. Federal officials expect to release updates as they gather more information.
This is a developing story.