UPS cargo plane crash kills at least 12 in Kentucky
MD-11 freighter erupts in flames during Louisville takeoff
Kentucky officials and federal investigators continued on-site work after a UPS cargo plane crashed in flames during takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, killing at least 12 people and scattering a half‑mile debris field through a nearby industrial corridor.
Authorities recovered the flight recorders from the MD‑11 freighter, which was bound for Honolulu with three crew members aboard. National Transportation Safety Board member Todd Inman said a large plume of fire erupted around the aircraft’s left wing during the takeoff roll and that one of the three engines detached from that wing. The jet cleared a perimeter fence before striking multiple structures just beyond airport property and was immediately engulfed in a fireball, igniting blazes including at a petroleum‑recycling facility that later exploded and at an auto‑salvage yard.
State and local officials, including the governor and Louisville’s mayor, toured the scene as NTSB and Federal Aviation Administration investigators mapped debris, collected data recorders and coordinated with first responders on infrastructure damage. The crash forced temporary closure of airport operations and disrupted activity at the UPS Worldport hub, slowing delivery services. Authorities issued shelter‑in‑place guidance for nearby residents and urged the public not to disturb wreckage, deploying a public‑reporting tool to gather information on fallout.
UPS said the aircraft had been heavily fueled for the long‑haul flight and expressed sorrow over the loss of life. Emergency teams reported multiple injuries and a complex rescue and recovery environment due to widespread fires and structural damage. Officials indicated one runway will remain closed for about ten days while the crash zone is secured and cleared.
Investigators warned the probe will be lengthy, likely exceeding a year, as they examine mechanical, fuel, operational and fire‑damage factors. The detachment of an engine during takeoff is a central focus. The disaster has prompted scrutiny of cargo‑fleet operations, maintenance records and safety controls at the logistics hub, with potential implications for regulatory and industry practices in the U.S. and internationally.
