UPS Airlines Flight 2976: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|2025 aviation accident in Kentucky, ㅕㄴ}}

{{Short description|2025 aviation accident in Kentucky, }}

{{Current|date=November 2025|2=recent plane crash}}

{{Current|date=November 2025|2=recent plane crash}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2025}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2025}}

2025 aviation accident in Kentucky, US

UPS Airlines Flight 2976

A CCTV still of the aircraft crashing with its left engine separated
Date	November 4, 2025 (2025-11-04)
Summary	Engine failure on takeoff
Site	Near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, Louisville, Kentucky, United States 38°08′54″N 85°44′06″W / 38.14824°N 85.73497°W / 38.14824; -85.73497
Total fatalities	11+
Total injuries	15+
Total missing	16+
N259UP, the aircraft involved, in March 2025
Aircraft type	McDonnell Douglas MD-11F
Operator	UPS Airlines
IATA flight No.	5X2976
ICAO flight No.	UPS2976
Call sign	UPS 2976
Registration	N259UP
Flight origin	Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, Kentucky, United States
Destination	Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, Hawaii, United States
Occupants	3
Passengers	0
Crew	3
Fatalities	3
Injuries	11+
Survivors	11(on ground)

UPS Airlines Flight 2976 was a scheduled domestic cargo flight operated by UPS Airlines from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Louisville, Kentucky, United States, to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, Hawaii, United States.^[1][2][3] On November 4, 2025, the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 operating the flight crashed shortly after takeoff from runway 17R at about 5:13 p.m. EST (UTC−5), killing at least eleven people, likely including all three crew members. The accident is being investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

Aircraft

The aircraft involved was N259UP, a 34-year-old McDonnell Douglas MD-11F with MSN 48417, first flown in 1991 and delivered as a passenger plane to Thai Airways International, with which it carried tail number HS-TME. Later, the aircraft was converted to a cargo plane and delivered to UPS Airlines, a wholly owned subsidiary of United Parcel Service (UPS), in 2006. It was equipped with three General Electric CF6-80C2D1F engines.^[4][5][6]

Accident

According to initial flight tracking data, the aircraft, heading south on runway 17R, reached a maximum altitude of 175 feet (53 m) above ground level,^[7] and the highest recorded ground speed received was 186 knots (344 km/h; 214 mph).^[5] The flight was not carrying hazardous cargo.^[8] Radio communication with Air Traffic Control (ATC), routinely archived, was so full of interference that no meaningful speech could be discerned.^[9]

Bystander videos show the aircraft taking off with its number one (left) engine engulfed in flames. Seconds after becoming airborne, the aircraft made a sharp descent to the left.^[10] It hit the roof of the UPS Supply Chain warehouse, rolled on its longitudinal axis, and with right wing facing up and the landing gear extended, plowed through a semi-truck parking area.^[11] The left engine, which separated from the wing during the takeoff roll, was lying on the grass near runway 17R.^[12][13]

Multiple buildings were set on fire or destroyed, with reports of people being trapped inside.^[14][15] The crash site included at least two businesses: a petroleum recycling plant, causing further flames, and an auto scrap yard.^[16] Two employees of the auto yard were unaccounted for, and it is unknown how many customers were on the premises.^[1] UPS said three crew members were on board the plane.^[17]

Victims

Governor Andy Beshear stated that at least eleven people had been killed, with the plane’s three crew likely to be among the dead. The death toll is expected to rise to twelve by the end of November 5, and the missing people have been presumed dead.^[18][19] Sixteen families reported missing relatives.^[20][21][22] A spokesperson for UofL Health reported that the system has received 15 patients, 13 having been discharged as of the next morning.^[23][24]

Aftermath

All flights to and from the airport were immediately canceled.^[8]
The Louisville Metro Police Department issued a shelter-in-place order centered on the airport with a radius of 5 miles (8.0 km). This was later reduced to 1 mile (1.6 km) by Louisville Metro Emergency Medical Services. Mayor Greenberg said, at the last briefing of the day, that more than 100 firefighters were at the scene. The local police said that it was of crucial importance that families not seek loved ones at hospitals, as to avoid their being swamped; a “reunification center” was set up at the police training academy.^[25][26]

UPS suspended operations at its Worldport air hub.^[27]

The fire was nearly completely contained by 10:30 p.m., freeing up first responders to search for victims.^[28]

All public schools in the Jefferson County School District were closed the day after the crash.^[7]

The radius of the shelter-in-place order was reduced for the third time, effective at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday 5 November, centered near 7501 Grade Lane, to 0.25 miles (0.40 km).^[26] The Louisville Metro Government set up a website for people to report and document debris, which they were urged not to touch, and numerous departures were delayed or canceled.^[26]

Reactions

A number of local politicians, including Kentucky U.S. Senators Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul, expressed their condolences to the victims.^[29] A town hall meeting in Louisville with U.S. Senate candidate Nate Morris started with a moment of silence following the accident.^[30] Representative Morgan McGarvey thanked the bravery of first responders at the scene.^[31]

The Big Four Bridge crossing the Ohio River between Louisville and Jeffersonville, Indiana, was illuminated in yellow, one of the primary colors used by UPS, in solidarity.^[32]

Investigation

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the crash along with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).^[33] The NTSB launched a go-team of 28 personnel.^[13] At a media briefing held on November 5, 2025 at 3:00 pm ET, with board member Todd Inman serving as the on-scene spokesperson,^[34] they announced the recovery of the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder.^[35] UPS Airlines announced that they are in close contact and cooperating with the NTSB and the FAA.^[2]

See also

References

External links