UPS cargo plane crash in Louisville kills at least 12, search for missing continues

A UPS cargo plane bound for Hawaii crashed moments after takeoff from Louisville, Kentucky, on Tuesday evening, erupting into a massive fire that tore through nearby industrial buildings and left at least 12 people dead.

Officials warned that the death toll could rise as rescue teams comb through the charred wreckage.

The MD-11 freighter, operating as UPS Flight 2976, took off from Louisville’s Muhammad Ali International Airport around 5:20 pm. Within seconds, the aircraft began to struggle and failed to gain proper altitude, reaching only about 50 metres before plummeting less than two kilometres from the runway.

Witnesses reported seeing a bright flash followed by a series of explosions as the aircraft slammed into an industrial area, igniting a fireball that lit up the evening sky.

Kentucky’s Governor Andy Beshear confirmed the deaths during a late-night briefing and said several people remained missing. “This is one of the darkest nights our city has faced in years,” he said, adding that search operations were continuing despite the intensity of the flames. A child was believed to be among the victims, though officials did not release further details.

Inferno near the airport

The cargo jet came down near two businesses — Kentucky Petroleum Recycling and Grade A Auto Parts — just south of the airport. The impact set off smaller explosions in the petroleum facility, complicating rescue efforts. Firefighters battled the flames through the night, while hazardous materials teams were called in to contain chemical leaks.

The airport temporarily halted operations but reopened one runway early Wednesday. Nearby facilities, including a Ford Motor assembly plant employing thousands, were not directly struck but experienced brief power outages due to the crash.

Early clues point to engine failure

Preliminary data from flight tracking website Flightradar24 indicated that the plane reached a speed of about 184 knots before suddenly losing altitude. Officials from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said early findings suggest the left engine detached during takeoff, possibly causing a fire in the wing.

Todd Inman, a member of the NTSB team investigating the incident, told reporters that airport security footage showed the engine separating from the wing before the aircraft lifted off. “We have recovered the engine from the runway area and will examine it in detail,” he said. The aircraft’s black boxes have also been retrieved and are being sent to Washington, DC, for analysis.

Aviation experts say it is too soon to pinpoint the exact cause. “It could have been a structural failure or a fuel leak that ignited and tore the engine off,” said former crash investigator Jeff Guzzetti. “The MD-11 is a reliable model, but like all ageing aircraft, wear and tear can play a role.”

Community in mourning

Residents living near the crash site described the moment as “like an earthquake”. One local worker said the blast shattered windows and sent debris raining down on the street. Emergency shelters have been set up for those displaced by the fires.

UPS confirmed that three of its crew members were on board but said their status remained unverified. The company expressed deep sorrow, calling it a “tragic day” for the UPS family.

As investigators sift through the debris and families await word on missing loved ones, Louisville has been left in shock, grappling with one of the deadliest aviation disasters in the state’s recent history.