Nine Still Missing Following UPS Cargo Plane Crash in Louisville, Mayor Confirms
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Authorities are continuing their search after a UPS cargo plane crashed in Louisville, Kentucky, leaving nine people unaccounted for, according to the city’s mayor.
The accident occurred late Wednesday afternoon at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport. The UPS Airlines Flight 2976 was a scheduled domestic cargo flight destined for Honolulu, Hawaii, carrying three crew members onboard.
Flight tracking data shows the aircraft took off from runway 17R just after 5:13 p.m. EST but struggled immediately after departure. Videos taken by bystanders capture the plane attempting takeoff with its left engine missing and flames visible on the wing.
Moments after becoming airborne, the plane veered sharply left off the runway, descending rapidly and crashing into a UPS Supply Chain warehouse’s roof. It then collided with a stack of oil tanks, causing a massive fire, before finally coming to rest in a semi-truck parking area with its landing gear extended.
Emergency responders found multiple buildings ablaze or destroyed at the crash site. The area included several businesses, notably a petroleum recycling plant and an auto scrap yard, complicating rescue efforts. Reports indicate several people might have been trapped inside the structures at the time of the crash.
While UPS confirmed three crew members were on board the aircraft, local officials report a total of nine individuals remain missing following the disaster. The two employees of the adjacent auto yard are among those unaccounted for, and it is unclear whether customers were present on-site during the incident.
Rescue and fire teams continue to battle the lingering blaze caused by the oil tanks igniting after the crash. Investigators are working to piece together the cause of the accident, including examining the apparent engine failure witnessed prior to takeoff.
Louisville Mayor has urged residents to follow safety instructions and avoid the area near the airport while emergency crews conduct their operations. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is expected to lead the investigation into the crash.
This event marks one of the most severe aviation accidents in Louisville in recent years and has deeply impacted the local community and the cargo airline sector.