These 2 KY businesses were hit by UPS plane crash at Louisville airport
When a UPS plane crashed near Louisville’s Muhammad Ali International Airport Tuesday, at least two Kentucky businesses were hit.
The death toll from the crash rose to 12 Wednesday evening.
Kentucky Petroleum Recycling and Grade A Auto Parts, both located south of UPS Worldport, appear to be “hit pretty directly,” Beshear said Tuesday night during a news conference.
Beshear said Grade A had accounted for all but two employees at that time.
“They do not know how many other individuals, customers or others, could have been on site at the time,” he said. “Because of the nature of these fatalities, it may be some time before we can account for everyone or know that no one else was on the grounds.”
Grade A Auto Parts began its business in 1985. It sells parts from new and used cars. According to its website, the management team is made up of 10 people, though a complete employee count is not available.
The company is run by Sean Garber, who is CEO of Algar Inc., which specializes in car part sales in addition to automotive and metal recycling. Garber was appointed by Beshear in 2020 to serve on the state’s Unemployment Insurance Commission. He served his first term through 2024 and was reappointed for another term ending in 2028.
A Grade A manager was not authorized to answer questions Wednesday, and Garber has yet to return a request for additional information.
Kyler Collins, who said he works at Grade A, was home Tuesday when the plane crashed.
He said three of his fellow employees, including John Loucks, are still missing.
“John is a very special type of guy, he’d give you his shirt off his back. He’s always there for you when no one else is. Unfortunately he is missing after the plane crash,” Collins said.
Collins said the other two of his coworkers who are missing are women whose full names he did not know.
In a Facebook post, Grade A directed people affected by the crash to a reunification area set up at the Police Training Academy in Louisville on Taylor Boulevard.
“We at Grade A Recycling care about the safety of our team, clients and community, and believe in staying informed,” the post said.
Kentucky Petroleum Recycling Inc., the other company also south of Worldport, is a provider of used oil and reclaimed fuel recycling services. It began operating in 1961, according to the Better Business Bureau.
Leo Schircliff started the business to close a loop on energy waste. According to Scrap Monster, a trade publication, Fort Knox and General Electric were some of the company’s early customers. The business was incorporated in 1981.
GFL Environmental acquired Kentucky Petroleum in August 2023, according to a report from Truist on that year’s quarter four mergers and acquisitions. The Canadian waste management company recovers and recycles liquid waste from residential and commercial customers.
A GFL Environmental manager at the Louisville office said all of the company’s employees were accounted for, but didn’t have an additional statement to provide.
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to correct John Loucks’ name.
This story was originally published November 5, 2025 at 12:27 PM.
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