UPS Plane Crashes Into Flames In Kentucky, At Least Seven Dead

A UPS cargo plane tragically crashed in Kentucky on Tuesday, shortly after taking off from the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, resulting in a devastating fireball that claimed the lives of at least seven people, including all three crew members aboard. The incident occurred just before sunset and also left 11 individuals on the ground injured.

The fiery crash ignited a series of flames in a nearby industrial area, forcing authorities to suspend airport operations throughout the night. The scene was chaotic, with debris littering two runways and thick black smoke ascending into the evening sky.

The Louisville airport, home to UPS Worldport—its global hub for air cargo operations—was expected to reopen by Wednesday morning, but the incident has significantly disrupted delivery times for airborne and international packages. UPS acknowledged in a service alert that “contingency plans are in place to help ensure that shipments arrive at their final destinations as quickly as conditions permit.”

The ill-fated plane, a triple-engine aircraft, was loaded with fuel for an 8½ hour journey to Honolulu. Unfortunately, none of the three crew members survived the crash. In a late-night press briefing, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg confirmed that the death toll included four fatalities on the ground and stated that several of the 11 injured individuals were taken to hospitals with “very significant” injuries.

Witnesses captured chilling footage of the crash as flames engulfed one wing during takeoff, culminating in a dramatic fireball upon impact. Buildings in the industrial corridor adjacent to the runway were also consumed by flames, enhancing the urgency of the situation.

The Federal Aviation Administration reported that UPS Flight 2976 went down around 5:15 p.m. local time, leaving investigators grappling with critical questions. One pivotal aspect they will examine is the circumstances surrounding the separation of one engine before the crash—a startling detail noted in various videos of the site.

U.S. air safety expert John Cox emphasized that there was an unusual intensity to the fire, far beyond what one would expect from a typical engine malfunction. He pointed out, “That airplane should have flown on two engines. So now we’ve got to look at what caused it not to fly.”

As fires continued to smolder near the airport, officials issued a shelter-in-place order for all locations within a five-mile radius, underscoring the ongoing danger and complexity of the situation. The community is now left grappling with the aftermath of this tragic event as investigations aim to uncover the truth behind this catastrophic accident.