A UPS cargo jet crashed and exploded in flames seconds after lifting off from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) on Tuesday evening, killing all three crew members and temporarily halting operations at the company’s massive Worldport hub. The fiery crash of the McDonnell Douglas MD-11, operating as UPS Flight 2976 to Honolulu, occurred moments after takeoff and was captured on video showing the aircraft’s left engine engulfed in flames as it struggled to gain altitude.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the widebody freighter went down at approximately 5:15 p.m. local time after departing Runway 17R. The aircraft climbed only briefly — reaching no more than 200 feet — before rolling left and slamming into an industrial area beyond the runway. The impact triggered a massive explosion and fire that sent black smoke towering over the airport.
Footage circulating on social media and confirmed by local outlets shows the MD-11 already ablaze as it accelerated down the runway, its left engine trailing flames. The jet became airborne for just a few seconds before crashing off the end of the runway, striking what appeared to be industrial buildings near UPS’s sprawling facility. Emergency crews rushed to the scene as fuel-fed fires spread through the debris field.
Louisville Fire and Rescue officials said responders contained the blaze within an hour but that the wreckage area remained “extremely hazardous.” Nearby businesses were evacuated, and a temporary shelter-in-place order was issued for neighborhoods north of the airport due to heavy smoke and the potential for secondary explosions.
Authorities said at least 11 people on the ground were injured and the three crew members were killed in the crash, according to Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear. Speaking at an evening press conference, Beshear described the incident as “catastrophic” and warned that the number of casualties on the ground was likely to rise as rescue crews continued searching the debris field near the airport.
The FAA confirmed that the aircraft involved was an MD-11 freighter registered N259UP, built in 1991 and operated by UPS since 2006. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) dispatched a team of investigators to Louisville to lead the inquiry. In a brief statement, the agency said it would analyze flight data recorders, maintenance logs, and cockpit voice recordings to determine the cause of the accident.
UPS issued the following statement: “At approximately 5:20 pm ET tonight, UPS Flight 2976 from Louisville, KY, to Honolulu, an MD-11 with three crewmembers onboard, was involved in an accident in Louisville. At this time, we have not confirmed any injuries/casualties. UPS will release more facts as they become available, but the National Transportation Safety Board is in charge of the investigation and will be the primary source of information about the official investigation.”
The MD-11, a three-engine derivative of the DC-10, has a history of challenging handling characteristics during takeoff and landing. While the model has been phased out by many passenger carriers, it remains a workhorse of the global air-cargo industry, including fleets operated by UPS and FedEx. Tuesday’s crash marks the first fatal MD-11 accident in the United States in more than a decade.
Louisville’s Worldport serves as UPS’s global hub, processing hundreds of flights each day. The airport closed temporarily following the crash, forcing multiple cargo flights to divert. By early evening, at least one runway had reopened as firefighters continued cooling hotspots at the impact site.
Witnesses reported seeing “sparks or fire” from the left engine moments before the aircraft left the ground. Weather at the time of the crash was clear with calm winds.
The NTSB said a preliminary report could be released within 10 days, though the full investigation is likely to take a year or longer.
