10
Loading video...
By Dan Gooding, Hollie Silverman, and John Feng
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
At least seven people are dead and 11 injured after a UPS plane crashed after taking off from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) on Tuesday evening.
Videos posted to social media showed a fire to one engine, a large explosion and plumes of thick, black smoke rising into the air from the wreck. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said he expected the number of fatalities and injuries to rise due to the severity of the "catastrophic crash."
"The situation is serious. Please pray for the families affected," Beshear said in a post to X, later saying at a news conference: “Anybody who has seen the images, the video, knows how violent this crash is."
Read More on News
Three crew members were on board the plane at the time of the crash, UPS said in a statement Tuesday night. The company's largest package handling facility is in Louisville and the company announced Tuesday night that it had halted package sorting at the center and didn’t say when it would resume. The hub employs thousands of workers, has 300 daily flights and sorts more than 400,000 packages an hour.
Two businesses were struck by the aircraft: Kentucky Petroleum Recycling and Grade A Auto Parts, Beshear said, adding that two employees are missing from the auto parts business.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the crash, a spokesperson for the FAA told Newsweek via email.
Newsweek reached out to SDF via email for comment Tuesday night.
Why It Matters
The incident has disrupted air traffic and daily life around one of Kentucky's busiest transportation hubs. Louisville's Muhammad Ali International Airport, a critical connection for the region, closed its airfield as fire and emergency crews responded.
The crash comes on the same day the Trump administration warned of "chaos" as air traffic controllers go unpaid during the extended government shutdown.
...
What To Know
UPS Flight 2976 crashed around 5:15 p.m. local time Tuesday, after departing from SDF en route to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, Hawaii, the FAA told Newsweek in an email.
Beshear said at least three people had died and 11 others were injured, some of them severely.
"This is an all-hands-on-deck response," he said during the news conference, listing all of the agencies that have responded.
MetroSafe, the city’s emergency coordination center, confirmed an explosion at the crash site, followed by visible flames and debris that could be seen for miles, local news outlet WLKY reported.
The Louisville Metro Police Department expanded a shelter-in-place order from a five-mile radius around the airport to include "all areas north of the airport to the Ohio River," warning residents and travelers to remain indoors and away from the affected zone.
The shelter in place extended from the river south to Okolona and as far east as Jeffersonville, but was later cut back. Grade Lane, a major road near the crash site, was closed indefinitely between Stooge and Crittenden, stalling local traffic and further restricting access to the scene.
SDF confirmed the "aircraft incident" on its official social media account, declaring the airfield closed and advising travelers to await further updates. No flights were permitted in or out of the airport as emergency operations continued. The airport later rescheduled some flights for Wednesday morning, while others were canceled.
The UPS hub in Louisville sees 300 daily flights, sorts more than 400,000 packages an hour and employs thousands of people, the Associated Press reported.
...
How Much Fuel Can MD-11 Aircraft Hold?
The aircraft was described by the FAA as a McDonnell Douglas MD-11, a trijet wide-body airliner manufactured by McDonnell Douglas and later Boeing. The MD-11 is the largest trijet airliner in the world.
“My understanding is that there were about 280,000 gallons of fuel on the plane, and so that is extreme reason for concern in so many different ways,” Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg told local news outlet WLKY-TV.
What People Are Saying
Beshear, in a post to X: "Kentucky, we are aware of a reported plane crash near Louisville International Airport. First responders are onsite, and we will share more information as available. Please pray for the pilots, crew and everyone affected. We will share more soon."
UPS, in a statement on its website: "At approximately 5:20 PM ET tonight, UPS Flight 2976 from Louisville, KY, to Honolulu, an MD-11 with three crewmembers onboard, was involved in an accident in Louisville. At this time, we have not confirmed any injuries/casualties. UPS will release more facts as they become available, but the National Transportation Safety Board is in charge of the investigation and will be the primary source of information about the official investigation."
Greenberg, in a post to X: "Please join Rachel and me in praying for the crew of UPS flight 2976. This is an incredible tragedy that our community will never forget. We are so thankful for our brave first responders who have flooded the scene to help try and control the fire and provide support for any victims on the ground."
A spokesperson for the FAA, to Newsweek via email: "UPS Flight 2976 crashed around 5:15 p.m. local time on Tuesday, Nov. 4, after departing from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky. The McDonnell Douglas MD-11 was headed to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu. The FAA and NTSB will investigate. The NTSB will lead the investigation and will provide all updates."
Louisville Metro Police Department, on X: “LENSAlert EMERGENCY: There has been an incident near the airport. A shelter-in-place has been issued for all locations within 5 miles of the airport. Please remain away from the area until further notice.”
FlyLouisville (Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport), on X Tuesday: “Aircraft incident confirmed at SDF. At this time the airfield is closed, more details to come.”
The Teamsters union, in a statement posted to Facebook: "Amid breaking news tonight of a UPS plane crash at the Worldport facility in Louisville, the Teamsters Union is monitoring this developing tragic event on the ground. As this horrific scene is being investigated, prayers on behalf of our entire International Union are with those killed, injured, and affected, including their families, co-workers, and loved ones. The Teamsters will provide additional details as they become available."
What Happens Next
The NTSB is leading the crash investigation, and a shelter-in-place order remains in effect.
There is no word on when the airport will reopen, but it is likely to remain closed until authorities declare the scene safe and complete preliminary surveys.
Further information on the condition of those injured, flight resumption and the cause of the crash will be provided as official agencies release updates.
Update 11/4/25, 10:16 p.m.: This article has been updated with more information.
Update 11/5/25, 4 a.m.: This article has been updated with a graphic showing the flight path.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines