A catastrophic incident unfolded Tuesday evening as a UPS cargo plane crashed and erupted into flames at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky, resulting in at least three fatalities and 11 injuries. The McDonnell Douglas MD-11, operating as Flight 2976, struck the roof of the Kentucky Petroleum Recycling building shortly after departing from the airport, according to Governor Andy Beshear.
The aircraft was en route to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu when the crash occurred around 5:14 p.m. ET. Officials confirmed the plane carried over 200,000 pounds of fuel, triggering a massive fireball explosion. Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg reported that emergency services were mobilized to the scene near the UPS Worldport facility.
Beshear described the incident as “catastrophic,” noting two employees from a nearby business, Grade A Auto Parts, remain unaccounted for. While UPS stated it had not confirmed injuries or fatalities, local authorities reported multiple casualties. Emergency responders issued a shelter-in-place alert for areas northbound along the Outer Loop to the Ohio River, urging residents to disable air intake systems.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched an investigation, with the NTSB leading the effort. All flights at Louisville International Airport were suspended, and the airfield remains closed. A victim reunification site was established, with chaplains assisting those affected.
No hazardous cargo was onboard, according to Beshear, though the full cause of the crash remains under review.
