A UPS cargo aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on Tuesday evening, killing at least seven people, with that number expected to rise. The three-member crew on board the freighter are believed to have died. The McDonnell Douglas MD-11F freighter, operating as UPS Flight 2976 to Honolulu, erupted into flames near the UPS Worldport facility, sending thick black smoke across Kentucky’s largest air hub.
The wide-body freighter departed runway 17R at about 5:13 p.m. local time and climbed briefly before witnesses saw flames near its left wing or engine. Within seconds, the aircraft lost altitude and crashed into an industrial area bordering the airport. Security footage captured a massive fireball that illuminated the dusk sky.
The jet came down near Fern Valley Road and Grade Lane, igniting multiple fires that spread through surrounding warehouses. Emergency crews battled the blaze as officials issued a shelter-in-place order for nearby neighborhoods.
Images Show Engine Near Runway
Imagery and debris found near the runway raise speculation that an engine may have separated during take-off, after video footage showed a fire on the left wing/engine and parts lying on the tarmac.
The Aircraft
The aircraft, tail number N259UP, was a 34-year-old McDonnell Douglas MD-11F, a type widely used in global cargo operations.
Flight Radar data shows that the aircraft was on the ground from September 3 to October 18, suggesting the possibility that the aircraft underwent maintenance during that period.
Investigation Underway
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has opened an investigation into the crash. The investigative team is scheduled to arrive in Kentucky tomorrow.
A preliminary report is expected within two to three weeks, with a full investigation likely to take a year or more.
Louisville’s Worldport is the largest fully automated package-sorting facility in the world, handling more than 300 flights and two million packages daily. While temporary suspensions caused short-term disruptions Tuesday evening, UPS said contingency routing was in progress to restore operations.
The crash, one of the most serious U.S. cargo-plane accidents in recent years, has renewed attention on the aging MD-11 freighter fleet and the risks of heavy-fuel departures near industrial zones.
Cover image: Video still via Secretary Sean Duffy / X (formerly Twitter)
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