UPS plane’s engine detached from aircraft moments after attempted takeoff at Louisville airport, death toll rises
- Lori Lee WGOLV
- 3 hours ago
- 5 min read
0:33
According to officials, the engine of a UPS jet that erupted in flames at a Louisville airport detached from the aircraft shortly after takeoff Tuesday, causing the plane to roll over and crash moments afterward.
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Member Todd Inman said at a Wednesday news conference, “We have viewed airport CCTV security coverage, which shows the left engine detaching from the wing during the takeoff roll.”
Although the footage reviewed by the NTSB has not been released, clips circulating have shown the UPS Flight 2976’s left engine engulfed in flames as it rolled up the tarmac at Louisville’s Muhammad Ali International Airport just after 5 p.m. Tuesday. Within moments, it collapsed to the ground and burst into flames, killing all three crew members on board and at least six others.
The NTSB said the plane’s black box has also been recovered.
Death toll in Tuesday night's UPS plane crash in Louisville:
The death toll in Tuesday night’s UPS plane crash in Louisville has risen to at least nine and is expected to jump even more. Kentucky's governor warns that more than a dozen families have reported loved ones missing.
“The number of those lost has now risen to at least nine, with the possibility of more.”
He said at a reunification center that 16 families have come forward and reported relatives still unaccounted for.
A “significant” search-and-rescue effort was underway overnight and continued Wednesday morning.
At a press conference Wednesday morning, Beshear said more than 200 first responders were on the scene of the blaze, and declared a state of emergency to help get state resources in place more quickly.
Residents and businesses in the immediate vicinity of the crash site were warned not to consume any tap water for the time being. However, Beshear said the warning didn’t apply to those in the suburbs or other parts of Louisville.
Beshear said he was returning to Louisville this afternoon to survey the damage with Mayor Craig Greenberg, and that additional information would be forthcoming at a press conference to follow.
A terrifying picture of the crash in Louisville, Kentucky, on Nov. 4, 2025.
Leirim Rodrigues via Storyful
UPS Flight 2976 was carrying three crew members and 50,000 gallons of jet fuel when it exploded in a massive fireball around 5:15 p.m. on Tuesday. It exploded just 13 minutes after takeoff, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
In a statement, the company said it was “terribly saddened” by the accident, and offered “heartfelt thoughts” to everyone involved.
“We are engaged with the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation of the accident and are staying in close contact with the Federal Aviation Administration. We will work tirelessly with state and local authorities on response efforts,” the global shipping and logistics company said.
About UPS in Louisville -
UPS is the largest employer in Louisville, where the international shipping company has its headquarters.
The Louisville airport is home to UPS's largest package delivery hub, known internally as "Worldport." This facility has more than 300 flights taking off and landing each day.
Worldport processes approximately 2 million packages daily and has the capacity to handle up to 416,000 packages per hour, according to The Associated Press. The center can accommodate up to 125 aircraft comfortably.
With 20,000 local employees, UPS is the largest employer in the Louisville area. Metro Council member Betsy Ruhe noted that everyone in town knows at least one person who works there.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives. We also pray for the ongoing search efforts.
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