Kentucky

Report: Young mother among missing from UPS plane crash in Louisville

Members of the Kentucky National Guard’s 41st Civil Support Team survey the site of a fatal civilian airplane crash in Louisville, Ky., Nov. 5, 2025. The team is testing air quality to evaluate the presence of toxic chemicals. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Phil Speck)
Members of the Kentucky National Guard’s 41st Civil Support Team survey the site of a fatal civilian airplane crash in Louisville, Ky., Nov. 5, 2025. The team is testing air quality to evaluate the presence of toxic chemicals. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Phil Speck)

A young mother of two is among the missing after a UPS cargo plane crash in Louisville this week, according to NBC.

“Megan Washburn, 35, a mother of two and a scrap metal buyer and customer experience agent at Grade A Auto Parts and Scrap Metal Recycling, was working Tuesday, the day of the crash, and hasn’t been heard from since,” the company’s owner, Sean Garber, told NBC News.

Garber’s business was one of two damaged in the crash.

Garber also confirmed another employee, John Loucks, 52, who works as a heavy equipment operator, is missing.

Grade A employee Kyler Collins previously told the Herald-Leader, “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..”

The crash happened shortly before 5:15 p.m. Tuesday as UPS Flight 2976 was leaving the airport in Louisville bound for Honolulu, Hawaii. It killed at least 14 people, including three UPS crew members, and injured several others. Officials continue to search for nine people missing from nearby businesses, including Loucks and Washburn.

NTSB Member Todd Inman said Wednesday airport video showed the left engine of the MD-11 McDonnell Douglas aircraft detaching soon after takeoff.

This story was originally published November 7, 2025 at 5:07 PM.

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Valarie Honeycutt Spears
Lexington Herald-Leader
Staff writer Valarie Honeycutt Spears covers K-12 education, social issues and other topics. She is a Lexington native with southeastern Kentucky roots.  Support my work with a digital subscription
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