UPS MD-11 crashes near Louisville – At least twelve people were killed

United Parcel Service (UPS) flight 5X2976 crashed around 17:15 local time on Tuesday, Nov. 4, after departing from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky.

At least 12 people were killed and 15 others injured when a UPS cargo plane crashed near Louisville International Airport on Tuesday, igniting a massive fire and sending thick black smoke billowing for miles, according to footage from CNN affiliate WAVE. It appears that the aircraft lost the left engine shortly after take-off.

The MD-11 freighter, operating as UPS flight 5X2976, went down shortly after takeoff, tearing through nearby businesses and roadways. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said several of the injuries are “very significant,” and warned that the casualty count could rise as recovery efforts continue. Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said on X that “every emergency agency” in the city is responding to the disaster.

The three flight crew members were among the victims. “Anyone who’s seen the images or video knows how violent this crash is,” Beshear said, adding that officials are working urgently to contact affected families.

Both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched investigations. The NTSB will lead the probe and has dispatched a “go-team” on Wednesday. Investigators have recovered the cockpit flight recorder and the flight data recorder.