A devastating crash shook Louisville, Kentucky on Tuesday, November 4, as UPS Flight 2976, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11F cargo jet bound for Dallas, went down moments after takeoff from Muhammad Ali International Airport. The fiery wreck claimed at least 12 lives, including all three crewmembers and a child in a nearby housing complex, injured 15 others, and left 16 people missing, with officials warning the death toll could rise as recovery operations continue.
Early reports from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) indicate the aircraft suffered a catastrophic mechanical failure just after lifting off around 6:00 a.m. The plane’s left engine detached, igniting a massive fire as the jet struggled to climb. Security footage shows the wing engulfed in flames before the plane crashed into an industrial area less than a mile from the runway.
Firefighters battled the blaze for hours while debris scattered across several blocks, damaging buildings and vehicles. Emergency responders are still combing through a half-mile debris field, working tirelessly to recover victims and secure the site.
UPS has temporarily suspended operations at its Worldport hub, and airport officials limited runway activity as investigators and NTSB teams work to understand the crash. Louisville Metro authorities initially issued a shelter-in-place order due to smoke and potential chemical exposure from burning jet fuel, later reducing the area after air-quality tests showed improvement.
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