The horrific crash near Louisville SDF killed at least four people and injured 11 others. Those numbers are expected to grow.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A UPS cargo plane crashed near the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport late Tuesday afternoon, killing at least four people and injuring 11 others, with two of them in critical condition.
Gov. Andy Beshear called the incident “catastrophic” and urged residents to stay away from the area as emergency crews continue to respond.
The MD-11 aircraft was enroute to Honolulu went down around 5:15 p.m., sending a massive plume of smoke into the sky visible across Louisville and southern Indiana.
Shelter-in-place alerts were issued for areas north of Outer Loop and across the river into Jeffersonville, Indiana as firefighters battled intense flames. That order has since been reduced to a one-mile radius around the airport.
Beshear traveled to Louisville shortly after receiving word of the crash and joined with city and state officials during a media briefing.
“Folks this is a catastrophic event and there are a lot of people hurting who need our love and support,” said Gov. Beshear. “Let’s please pray for all those affected, and for the dedicated first responders who will be working around the clock to help keep our community safe. Remember: We are in this together, Kentucky.”
Preliminary reports indicate the aircraft struck an area just southeast of the airport. Two businesses – Kentucky Petroleum and Grade A Auto Parts were directly affected.
“We are seeking more information, but it looks like they [Kentucky Petroleum Recycling] were hit pretty directly,” Beshear said. “Grade A Auto Parts has accounted for all but two of their employees, but we do not yet know if there were customers or other individuals on site at the time.”
The governor cautioned that it could take time to determine the full number of casualties, given the hazardous nature of the facilities.
“Because of the nature of these facilities, it may be some time before we can account for everyone or know that no one else was on the grounds,” he said.
Louisville Emergency Services Executive Director Jody Meiman said the city remains in the first stage of a three-phase emergency response.
“We’re still in the life-safety step in this process,” Meiman explained. “We’re going door-to-door in the area to make sure every business, every facility, and the few private residences nearby are accounted for and evacuated.”
Three UPS crew members were aboard the plane when it went down. Officials have not yet released their conditions. UPS confirmed it is cooperating with investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board, who are expected to arrive on scene overnight.
Nearby, Ford’s Louisville Assembly Plant briefly lost power following the crash but was not otherwise impacted, the company said.
Beshear urged the public to avoid the area entirely.
“Do not go to the crash site,” he warned. “You will put people in danger, and you will put yourself in danger. There may be people that still need to be rescued. There are still dangerous things that are flammable and potentially explosive at the site.”
Beshear made it clear he was not going to speculate on the cause of the crash, saying that was for NTSB investigators to determine.
He added that prayer is a powerful tool in times like this and recalled the tornado tragedy in Mayfield, Kentucky in 2024.
“I would tell you after the tornado in Mayfield I was standing outside of a factory where I was sure 100 people were dead. We only ended up losing 13 and that’s a lot of people. Pray. It works. It helps. Let’s pray the number of Kentuckians or any other folks that we’ve lost stays as low as possible.”
The NTSB is expected to arrive in Louisville on Wednesday to begin their investigation.
Hawai’i State House of Representatives members Darius Kila and Tyson Miyake released a statement following the tragedy.
“We extend our deepest condolences and sincere aloha to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives, and to those who were injured, in the tragic crash of UPS Flight 2976. It is our understanding that the plane was headed to Honolulu.
As the Chair and Vice Chair of the House Committee on Transportation, we remain committed to working closely with the Federal Aviation Administration and our state partners to ensure the continued safety of air transportation and uphold the highest standards of airline regulation.”
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