Louisville, Kentucky: A catastrophic accident occurred on Tuesday evening when a UPS wide-body cargo plane, Flight 2976, crashed moments after takeoff from the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF), resulting in a massive fireball and at least seven confirmed fatalities. The death toll includes all three crew members aboard the aircraft, and at least four people on the ground. Additionally, 11 people on the ground were injured and transported to hospitals, some with “very significant” injuries, according to Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear.
The triple-engine McDonnell Douglas MD-11 freighter, a 34-year-old aircraft headed for Honolulu, crashed around 5:15 p.m. local time (Tuesday, Nov 4). Flames from the wreck ignited a string of major fires in an adjacent industrial corridor, affecting facilities including a petroleum recycling center and an auto parts business.
- Fatalities: At least 7 (3 crew members and 4 on the ground).
- Injuries: 11 people on the ground hospitalized.
- The Plane: UPS Flight 2976, an MD-11 freighter, fueled for an 8.5-hour flight to Honolulu.
- Impact: The airport, home to the global UPS Worldport hub, halted flight operations through the night, though it was expected to reopen on Wednesday morning. Delivery schedules may be affected.
Investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are on the scene, with one key question being why one engine appeared to have separated from the plane before the crash, and the cause of a fire visible on the aircraft shortly after takeoff. Air safety experts noted the size of the fire was “much too big” for a typical engine fire.
A shelter-in-place order was initially issued for a five-mile radius due to air-quality hazards from the smoke, but was later reduced. This is the first UPS cargo plane crash since 2013.
