A UPS cargo plane crashed in flames near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on Tuesday evening, killing 13 people, including all three crew members. The McDonnell Douglas MD-11, operating as Flight 2976 to Honolulu, went down just minutes after takeoff around 5:15 p.m.
Witnesses reported seeing the left engine break away before the plane exploded and crashed into an industrial area near the UPS Worldport facility. The impact sparked massive fires that spread to nearby buildings.
Fifteen others were injured, two critically, as firefighters battled the blaze late into the night. Both flight recorders have been recovered, and federal investigators are looking into possible mechanical or maintenance failures.
Governor Andy Beshear called it “one of the darkest days Louisville has seen,” while UPS offered heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families and praised first responders for their courage.
