A UPS cargo jet carrying four crew members crashed shortly after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on Tuesday evening, erupting into flames and sending thick plumes of black smoke across the area.
The McDonnell Douglas MD-11 aircraft, en route to Hawaii, went down around 5:15 pm local time (3:45 am IST), according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has taken charge of the investigation to determine the cause of the crash.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear confirmed at least four fatalities and 11 injuries, cautioning that the toll could rise. “Some of the injuries are very serious,” he said. Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg earlier reported “multiple injuries” and said the fire was still burning as “every emergency agency” responded to the scene. Beshear urged prayers for the victims, saying, “Anyone who’s seen the images knows how violent this crash was — there are families anxiously waiting for news tonight.”
UPS said in a statement that three crew members were on board, adding, “We have not yet confirmed injuries or fatalities. Our focus is on cooperating with authorities and supporting our employees and their families.”
Footage aired by local broadcaster WLKY appeared to show the plane’s left engine on fire during takeoff. Aerial visuals later captured a trail of debris and intense flames as firefighters battled the blaze.
Louisville serves as the central US air hub for UPS, which operates nearly 2,000 flights daily to over 200 destinations worldwide. The logistics giant’s fleet includes 516 aircraft — 294 owned and the rest leased or chartered.
The incident occurred amid a prolonged US government shutdown that has disrupted aviation operations nationwide. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy recently warned of “mass chaos” due to staffing shortages in air traffic control. “We may have to close parts of the airspace because we simply can’t manage it safely,” he said.
In a post on X, Duffy described footage of the crash as “heartbreaking,” adding, “Please keep the Louisville community and the UPS flight crew in your prayers.”
The tragedy comes less than a year after an American Eagle airliner collided with a military Black Hawk helicopter near Washington’s Reagan National Airport, killing 67 people — ending a 16-year stretch without a fatal commercial air crash in the US and renewing concerns about strain on the nation’s aviation safety systems.
