UPS Plane Crash in Kentucky Kills Nine, Sparks Fireball/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ A UPS cargo plane crashed at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, killing at least nine. The fiery explosion caused widespread damage and left several people unaccounted for. Authorities are investigating the crash’s cause, with concerns tied to recent aircraft maintenance.
Kentucky UPS Plane Crash Quick Looks
- A UPS cargo plane crashed and exploded at Louisville airport Tuesday evening.
- At least nine people are confirmed dead, with others still missing.
- The plane was en route to Honolulu when it crashed shortly after takeoff.
- Video shows the aircraft on fire and failing to gain proper altitude.
- Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said the crash nearly struck major buildings and public venues.
- Emergency responders are searching debris fields near nearby businesses and factories.
- The plane, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11, had recently undergone heavy maintenance.
- A shelter-in-place was issued for nearby neighborhoods due to fire and air quality concerns.
- Louisville UPS hub halted operations; public schools canceled classes Wednesday.
Deep Look: Deadly UPS Plane Crash in Kentucky Sparks Explosion, Leaves Nine Dead and Others Missing
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A devastating UPS cargo plane crash at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on Tuesday has left at least nine people dead, with several more unaccounted for. The fiery explosion that followed rocked nearby businesses, sent plumes of smoke into the air, and triggered a frantic search for survivors and victims as officials tried to assess the damage and the cause.
The McDonnell Douglas MD-11, built in 1991, was departing for Honolulu when it caught fire and crashed shortly after takeoff around 5:15 p.m. Emergency responders rushed to the scene at UPS Worldport, the shipping giant’s massive global air hub located just 7 miles from downtown Louisville.
Explosion Narrowly Avoided Greater Disaster
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear stated the crash’s location could have made the situation even more tragic. The plane narrowly missed several high-density areas, including a restaurant, a Ford auto plant with over 1,000 workers, and a busy livestock convention center.
“This plane barely missed a restaurant bar. It was very close to a very large Ford plant… and people were arriving for a major livestock show,” Beshear told CNN. “It’s really tough, but we have to recognize it could have been worse.”
Nearby businesses such as Kentucky Petroleum Recycling appeared to have been directly hit, and others—like an auto parts warehouse—sustained significant damage.
A shelter-in-place order was quickly issued within a 400-meter radius of the crash site, as firefighters worked to contain the blaze and environmental officials monitored air quality due to smoke and potential fuel contamination.
Chaos, Fear, and Unanswered Messages
Families gathered at a reunification center hoping for updates. Sixteen families had reported missing loved ones, including employees of nearby businesses. Many, like Eric Richardson, waited for news about people who hadn’t been heard from since the explosion. Richardson’s girlfriend, who was at a local recycling facility near the crash, had stopped responding, and her phone still pinged at the location.
Another eyewitness, Bobby Whelan, had just left the scene minutes before the crash. “It sounded like a bomb went off,” he said. “We don’t want to think anything but the best. But all our friends were there.”
Local business owner Tom Brooks Jr. described the impact as feeling like a war zone. “It just rocked the whole place,” he said.
Nearby, restaurant workers and diners reported hearing the blast. Destyn Mitchell, a host at an Outback Steakhouse, said many patrons left abruptly.
“People packed up their food and got out as fast as they could.”
Crash Caught on Video — Investigations Underway
Video footage captured the terrifying moment. Flames and smoke could be seen trailing from the aircraft’s left wing, which struggled to lift before crashing and erupting in a fireball. Debris from a nearby building’s roof was found scattered near the runway.
Aviation attorney Pablo Rojas said the video suggests the aircraft was experiencing engine trouble, particularly on its left side. “The amount of fuel on board makes the plane itself act like a bomb in an incident like this,” he said.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has dispatched a team to investigate the crash. Preliminary data shows the aircraft had been grounded in San Antonio from September 3 to October 18, undergoing extensive maintenance. Former crash investigator Jeff Guzzetti said determining the root cause will involve a thorough review of those maintenance records.
Operations Suspended, Community Shaken
UPS temporarily halted all package sorting operations at the facility and instructed workers to stay home Wednesday. The Louisville hub, which employs thousands, handles over 300 flights daily and sorts more than 400,000 packages per hour.
Local officials, including Metro Council member Betsy Ruhe, noted the widespread emotional toll.
“We all know somebody who works at UPS,” she said. “People are texting loved ones, hoping to hear back. Some of those texts won’t be answered.”
In response to the tragedy, Jefferson County Public Schools canceled all classes on Wednesday.
The airport resumed limited operations with at least one runway open, but authorities continue to search the crash site and nearby damaged buildings for victims or potential survivors.
