“Seven Confirmed Dead After UPS Cargo Plane Crash Near Louisville Airport”
Louisville, Kentucky — Near Muhammad Ali International Airport, November 4, 2025.
The city of Louisville is reeling after a devastating cargo plane crash claimed at least seven lives and destroyed multiple structures near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport. The crash, involving a UPS McDonnell Douglas MD-11 operating as Flight 2976, occurred shortly after takeoff around 5:15 p.m. Tuesday, leaving behind wreckage, fire, and heartbreak. Officials have cautioned that the death toll may still rise as search and recovery teams continue to comb through the smoldering debris.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the cargo jet had just departed for Dallas–Fort Worth International Airport when it experienced what pilots described as “a catastrophic loss of control.” Moments later, the aircraft plummeted into an industrial area less than two miles from the runway, striking several warehouses and delivery facilities before exploding in a massive fireball visible for miles.
Witness accounts and dashcam footage from nearby motorists captured the terrifying final seconds. One truck driver’s dashcam video, now circulating widely online, shows the driver shouting in shock as the UPS plane descends sharply, clips power lines, and erupts into flames upon impact. “It looked like the sky was on fire,” said James Reilly, who was stopped at a red light on Fern Valley Road when the explosion shook his vehicle. “You could feel the heat from where we were.”
Among those confirmed to have passed are Captain Daniel Harris, 48, of Louisville, and First Officer Rebecca Tran, 36, of Indianapolis — both longtime UPS pilots known for their professionalism and composure. Their colleagues at UPS Airlines, headquartered in Louisville, described them as “exemplary aviators” with years of experience flying large cargo aircraft. “They were more than coworkers; they were family,” said UPS spokesperson Marisa Leal during a tearful press briefing Wednesday morning.
Also among the deceased were five people on the ground, including warehouse employees and a delivery contractor who were working in nearby facilities at the time of impact. Their identities have not yet been released pending notification of families, but local officials have confirmed that several of the victims were Kentucky residents. Emergency crews rescued multiple others from burning buildings, some with severe burns and smoke inhalation injuries.
Firefighters battled the blaze for more than four hours as fuel-fed flames tore through structures and scorched vehicles across the crash site. Louisville Fire Chief Greg Frederick called the scene “one of the most complex and dangerous incidents our department has faced in recent years.” He credited first responders with preventing further casualties, noting that the crash occurred just minutes after hundreds of workers had left for the evening shift change.
The NTSB has taken charge of the investigation and will be examining flight data and cockpit voice recorders — the so-called “black boxes” — recovered late Tuesday night. Preliminary reports suggest the crew reported multiple system alerts before the crash, but investigators have not ruled out mechanical failure, bird strike, or weather as contributing factors. Conditions at the time of the crash were partly cloudy with light winds, and no severe weather advisories were in effect.
UPS issued an official statement expressing deep sorrow and pledging full cooperation with federal authorities. “We are devastated by the loss of our team members and those affected on the ground,” the statement read. “Our hearts go out to the families, coworkers, and friends grieving during this unimaginable time.”
Local residents described scenes of chaos and heartbreak as emergency sirens filled the air and thick smoke blanketed neighborhoods. “It was like thunder that didn’t stop,” said Lillian Carter, who lives less than a mile from the crash site. “We saw black smoke rising and could only pray everyone made it out.”
Mayor Craig Greenberg and Governor Andy Beshear both released statements offering condolences and promising state and local support for affected families. “Louisville is heartbroken tonight,” Mayor Greenberg said at a late-night press conference. “We are a community that takes care of our own, and we will wrap our arms around the families who have suffered so much.”
In the aftermath, parts of Crittenden Drive and Outer Loop remain closed as cleanup teams and investigators sift through the charred remains of the aircraft and surrounding structures. The American Red Cross has established assistance centers for displaced residents and employees whose workplaces were destroyed.
As Louisville begins to recover from one of the worst aviation disasters in its recent history, the city’s flags will fly at half-staff through the end of the week. For those who lost loved ones — and for a community still processing the horror — the tragedy stands as a stark reminder of life’s fragility and the bravery of those who respond when disaster strikes.
May the victims of UPS Flight 2976 rest in peace.
