A tragic UPS plane crash at Louisville’s Muhammad Ali International Airport left at least seven people dead and 11 injured after the aircraft exploded shortly after takeoff Tuesday evening. Officials said the UPS plane crash occurred around 5:15 p.m. when Flight 2976, bound for Hawaii and carrying 50,000 gallons of jet fuel, erupted in flames and slammed into a nearby petroleum recycling plant.
Shocking footage showed one wing ablaze as the cargo plane lifted off the runway before descending and exploding into a massive fireball. The fiery impact set off a chain of explosions that engulfed surrounding buildings, sending thick black smoke billowing into the sky. Louisville Fire Chief Brian O’Neill said rescue crews continued working through the night to search the “hazard zone” for additional victims.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear confirmed seven fatalities and warned that “the number is going to get larger.” Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said three crew members aboard the aircraft and four people on the ground were among the dead. Eleven others were hospitalized, several with critical injuries.
The Louisville Metro Police Department issued an immediate shelter-in-place order for residents within five miles of the airport, later expanding it north to the Ohio River. Residents were instructed to shut down air intake systems as officials monitored air quality. Portions of the smoke plume reached southern Indiana, prompting local emergency alerts.
Councilwoman Betsy Ruhe described the deep community ties to UPS, calling Louisville “a UPS town” and expressing sorrow for affected families. The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board have launched a joint investigation into the cause of the crash as the airport remains closed.
