A UPS Airlines cargo plane, Flight 2976, crashed shortly after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on Tuesday evening, November 4, 2025. The aircraft, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11F bound for Honolulu, lost its left engine during takeoff, causing a massive fire on the wing before it went down near an industrial area close to the airport.

The plane briefly lifted off but crashed moments later, striking nearby buildings and bursting into flames. The debris field stretched nearly 800 meters, and multiple structures caught fire, prompting an emergency response from local firefighters and police.

At least 12 people have been confirmed dead, including the three crew members on board and nine people on the ground. Among the victims was a young child. Several others remain missing, and the death toll could rise as recovery continues.

Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have recovered both the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder. Early evidence suggests that the left engine separated from the wing during takeoff, which may have caused the loss of control. The runway where the incident occurred will remain closed for at least ten days while investigations and cleanup take place.

The crash has disrupted UPS’s logistics network since Louisville serves as the company’s main global air hub. Many domestic and international deliveries are expected to face delays. Local businesses near the crash site also reported significant damage, and authorities issued a temporary shelter-in-place order shortly after the incident.

Emergency crews continue to work at the site as investigators piece together the sequence of events that led to the tragedy.