Education

See photos, video of UPS plane crash aftermath in Louisville

By Alex Valentine and Brian Simms

At least 12 people were killed Tuesday evening when a UPS cargo plane crashed leaving Muhammad Ali International Airport in Louisville.

The crash happened around 5:20 p.m. Nov. 4 as UPS Flight 2976 was departing for Honolulu, Hawaii.

It was not immediately clear where the deaths occurred.

The plane hit two nearby businesses as it was attempting to take off. Three crew members were on board at the time. Their statuses were not available Tuesday night.

The crash and resulting explosion sent plumes of smoke into the air that were visible across much of Louisville Tuesday evening.

Social media posts captured the fiery crash just south of the airport. Kentucky Truck Parts and Service shared surveillance video of the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 crashing near its shop. The loud, fiery explosion sent people running for cover.

The MD-11 has three engines, and there is photo and video evidence that one of the engines was on fire and separated from the plane. Social media posts also showed the separated engine on the ground.

UPS Flight 2976 Engine #1 detached from the airplane on takeoff roll.Prayers to the families of flight crew on...

Posted by speedbirdhd on Tuesday, November 4, 2025

See photos and video of the aftermath of the crash:

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - NOVEMBER 04: Fire and smoke mark where a UPS cargo plane crashed near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on November 04, 2025 in Louisville, Kentucky. The fully fueled plane crashed shortly after takeoff with a shelter-in-place order issued for within 5 miles of the airport. (Photo by Stephen Cohen/Getty Images)
Fire and smoke mark where a UPS cargo plane crashed near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on November 04, 2025 in Louisville, Kentucky. The fully fueled plane crashed shortly after takeoff with a shelter-in-place order issued for within 5 miles of the airport. Stephen Cohen Getty Images
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - NOVEMBER 04: Fire and smoke mark where a UPS cargo plane crashed near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on November 04, 2025 in Louisville, Kentucky. The fully fueled plane crashed shortly after takeoff with a shelter-in-place order issued for within 5 miles of the airport. (Photo by Stephen Cohen/Getty Images)
Fire and smoke mark where a UPS cargo plane crashed near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on November 04, 2025 in Louisville, Kentucky. The fully fueled plane crashed shortly after takeoff with a shelter-in-place order issued for within 5 miles of the airport. Stephen Cohen Getty Images
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - NOVEMBER 04: Fire and smoke mark where a UPS cargo plane crashed near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on November 04, 2025 in Louisville, Kentucky. The fully fueled plane crashed shortly after takeoff with a shelter-in-place order issued for within 5 miles of the airport. (Photo by Stephen Cohen/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - NOVEMBER 04: Fire and smoke mark where a UPS cargo plane crashed near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on November 04, 2025 in Louisville, Kentucky. The fully fueled plane crashed shortly after takeoff with a shelter-in-place order issued for within 5 miles of the airport. (Photo by Stephen Cohen/Getty Images) Stephen Cohen Getty Images
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - NOVEMBER 04: Fire and smoke mark where a UPS cargo plane crashed near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on November 04, 2025 in Louisville, Kentucky. The fully fueled plane crashed shortly after takeoff with a shelter-in-place order issued for within 5 miles of the airport. (Photo by Stephen Cohen/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - NOVEMBER 04: Fire and smoke mark where a UPS cargo plane crashed near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on November 04, 2025 in Louisville, Kentucky. The fully fueled plane crashed shortly after takeoff with a shelter-in-place order issued for within 5 miles of the airport. (Photo by Stephen Cohen/Getty Images) Stephen Cohen Getty Images
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - NOVEMBER 04: Fire and smoke mark where a UPS cargo plane crashed near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on November 04, 2025 in Louisville, Kentucky. The fully fueled plane crashed shortly after takeoff with a shelter-in-place order issued for within 5 miles of the airport. (Photo by Stephen Cohen/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - NOVEMBER 04: Fire and smoke mark where a UPS cargo plane crashed near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on November 04, 2025 in Louisville, Kentucky. The fully fueled plane crashed shortly after takeoff with a shelter-in-place order issued for within 5 miles of the airport. (Photo by Stephen Cohen/Getty Images) Stephen Cohen Getty Images
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - NOVEMBER 04: Fire and smoke mark where a UPS cargo plane crashed near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on November 04, 2025 in Louisville, Kentucky. The fully fueled plane crashed shortly after takeoff with a shelter-in-place order issued for within 5 miles of the airport. (Photo by Stephen Cohen/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - NOVEMBER 04: Fire and smoke mark where a UPS cargo plane crashed near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on November 04, 2025 in Louisville, Kentucky. The fully fueled plane crashed shortly after takeoff with a shelter-in-place order issued for within 5 miles of the airport. (Photo by Stephen Cohen/Getty Images) Stephen Cohen Getty Images
Smoke rises from the site of a UPS cargo plane crash near the UPS Worldport at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Louisville, Kentucky, on November 4, 2025. A UPS cargo plane crashed on the evening of November 11 near the Louisville International Airport shortly after takeoff, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said, as local media in the Kentucky city aired video of a large plume of smoke rising above the facility."UPS Flight 2976 crashed around 5:15 p.m. local time," the FAA said, identifying the aircraft as a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 headed to Hawaii. (Photo by LEANDRO LOZADA / AFP) (Photo by LEANDRO LOZADA/AFP via Getty Images)
Smoke rises from the site of a UPS cargo plane crash near the UPS Worldport at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Louisville, Kentucky, on November 4, 2025. A UPS cargo plane crashed on the evening of November 11 near the Louisville International Airport shortly after takeoff, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said, as local media in the Kentucky city aired video of a large plume of smoke rising above the facility."UPS Flight 2976 crashed around 5:15 p.m. local time," the FAA said, identifying the aircraft as a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 headed to Hawaii. (Photo by LEANDRO LOZADA / AFP) (Photo by LEANDRO LOZADA/AFP via Getty Images) LEANDRO LOZADA AFP via Getty Images
Smoke from the Nov. 4, 2025, UPS plane crash in Louisville, Ky., as seen near the University of Louisville campus on the corner of First Street and Cardinal Boulevard.
Smoke from the Nov. 4, 2025, UPS plane crash in Louisville, Ky., as seen near the University of Louisville campus on the corner of First Street and Cardinal Boulevard. Chris Hughes
Smoke from the Nov. 4, 2025, UPS plane crash in Louisville, Ky., as seen over Crittenden Drive near the airport.
Smoke from the Nov. 4, 2025, UPS plane crash in Louisville, Ky., as seen over Crittenden Drive near the airport. Chris Hughes
Smoke from the Nov. 4, 2025, UPS plane crash in Louisville, Ky., as seen near UPS.
Smoke from the Nov. 4, 2025, UPS plane crash in Louisville, Ky., as seen near UPS. Chris Hughes
Smoke from the Nov. 4, 2025, UPS plane crash in Louisville, Ky., as seen near UPS.
Smoke from the Nov. 4, 2025, UPS plane crash in Louisville, Ky., as seen near UPS. Chris Hughes
Smoke from the Nov. 4, 2025, UPS plane crash in Louisville, Ky., as seen near UPS.
Smoke from the Nov. 4, 2025, UPS plane crash in Louisville, Ky., as seen near UPS. Chris Hughes
Smoke from the Nov. 4, 2025, UPS plane crash in Louisville, Ky., as seen from Central Avenue.
Smoke from the Nov. 4, 2025, UPS plane crash in Louisville, Ky., as seen from Central Avenue. Chris Hughes
Heavy smoke could be seen over a Louisville neighborhood about three miles north of the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport.
Heavy smoke could be seen over a Louisville neighborhood about three miles north of the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport. Tessa Duvall tduvall@herald-leader.com
A plume of smoke could be seen on Louisville traffic cameras showing I-264 and I-65 in Jefferson County Tuesday evening.
A plume of smoke could be seen on Louisville traffic cameras showing I-264 and I-65 in Jefferson County Tuesday evening. TRIMARC

This story was originally published November 5, 2025 at 8:18 AM.

Get one year of unlimited digital access for $159.99
#ReadLocal

Only 44¢ per day

SUBSCRIBE NOW