Louisville Tragedy: UPS Plane Crash Kills 4, Injures 11

Louisville Tragedy: UPS Plane Crash Kills 4, Injures 11

By Paul V. Young – TheNationWeek.Com | November 5, 2025

LOUISVILLE, KY – A UPS freight plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Louisville International Airport on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, leaving at least four dead and 11 others injured.

Authorities have warned that the number could rise as the investigation continues.

The status of the crew on board was initially uncertain, with officials working to notify families.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear expressed concern that some injuries are “very significant.”

The crash involved UPS flight 2976, an MD-11 aircraft.

Investigation Underway

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the incident.

The NTSB has launched a “go-team” set to arrive in Kentucky on Wednesday to lead the probe.

Airport Impact

The crash caused significant disruption at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, as all departing flights were canceled Tuesday night.

Airport officials urged travelers with flights scheduled for Tuesday night or Wednesday to contact their airline for flight status updates.

Passengers were temporarily evacuated from planes, with at least one describing seeing dark smoke after a “stay-in-place” order was issued.

Community Response

A shelter-in-place order was initially issued for a five-mile radius around the crash site but was later reduced to one mile.

Residents within the affected area were encouraged to sign up for LENSAlert, the local emergency notification system.

Officials urged residents to avoid touching any debris from the crash and to report it to the city, providing a link for photographic submissions.

Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS), the largest school district in Kentucky, canceled classes on Wednesday, citing the shelter-in-place order.

Visuals and Accounts

Videos circulating on social media captured a massive fireball and thick black smoke billowing from the crash site.

One resident described hearing an explosion and seeing the sky “completely black” within minutes.

Aircraft History

The McDonnell Douglas MD-11F, now primarily used for cargo operations, was previously used to carry passengers.

While KLM last used the aircraft for passenger flights in 2014, the MD-11 has been involved in several incidents over the years, including the Swissair flight 111 crash in 1998 and a Lufthansa cargo jet crash in 2010.

Community Support

The Big Four Bridge, connecting Louisville and Jeffersonville, Indiana, was illuminated in yellow lights Tuesday night in honor of UPS flight 2976.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg stated, “This tragedy has touched every corner of our city.”

“As Louisville’s skyline glows in yellow, we’re thinking of the lives lost, the families forever changed, and the entire community that calls Louisville home,” he said.