Tragedy struck in Louisville on Tuesday when a UPS Airlines MD-11 crashed during takeoff from Louisville Muhammed Ali International Airport (SDF) in Kentucky. While information is still being gathered, we have new information on what caused the crash. Be warned, the videos and images from the scene are truly horrific.
UPS Flight 2976 Crashes During Takeoff
The accident occurred at approximately 5:20p local time on Tuesday November 4, 2025 when UPS Flight 2976, operating a regularly scheduled cargo flight from Louisville to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) in Honolulu, crashed shortly after takeoff. Louisville is the home of UPS Worldport, which is the company’s global logistics hub.
The flight was being operated by a 34 year old McDonnell Douglas MD-11 with the registration N259UP. The aircraft was converted from a passenger jet to a freighter and entered service with UPS in 2006.
Shortly after the incident, photos and videos of the crash began appearing on social media. UPS has issued a short statement regarding the incident but, at this time, we still have more questions than answers.
Based on videos from in and around the airport, it appears that the aircraft had an engine issue during its takeoff roll. Fire can be seen coming from the #1 engine as the aircraft lifts off of the runway. Moments later, a large fireball and plume of black smoke can be seen shortly after.
While it was initially reported that there were three fatalities, those numbers have now been revised to 12 fatalities with nine people still unaccounted for. Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said this about the search effort:
“The number of missing that we have tracked through our Family Assistance Center — that LMPD has been operating since right after the crash — is down to nine. We may have located all of the victims. There may be more that have not yet been reported. So I would ask if there are families that are still out there are that wondering about someone who may be missing, please call immediately. Please call 800-631-0604.”
The crash site stretches for over a mile through the area near the airport in an area dotted with scrap yards, UPS warehouses, and a Ford vehicle assembly plant. Videos from the airport appear to show part of one of the aircraft’s engine near the runway.
All flights to and from the airport were cancelled for the remainder of the day though operations have resumed at this time. One runway at the airport is currently operational.
What We Know About the Crash of Flight 2976
According to early reports, the left engine of the aircraft caught fire during the plane’s takeoff roll. That engine subsequently fell off and came to rest on the airport property. At some point during the crash, the left wing was separated from the fuselage of the MD-11. This incident will no doubt be compared to the crash of American Airlines Flight 191, which had similar characteristics.
Though unconfirmed, it appears from video of the crash that debris may have been ingested by the tail engine of the tri-jet, causing its failure. At that point, the plane would not have had enough thrust to climb given its weight.
Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are on the scene and a press conference has been scheduled for 3:00p local time on Thursday November 6.
This is a developing story and more information will be added as it becomes available.
Summary
A UPS Airlines McDonnell Douglas MD-11 has crashed shortly after takeoff from Louisville Muhammed Ali International Airport (SDF). The flight, which was bound for Honolulu, appeared to have engine issues during takeoff and crashed near the end of the runway. At least twelve fatalities have been reported with 9 more missing.
