UPS Cargo Plane Crashes in Louisville Scrap Yard, Four Lives Lost in Tragedy

Louisville, Kentucky — A tragic aviation disaster struck the city of Louisville late Thursday afternoon when a UPS MD-11 cargo aircraft burst into flames shortly after takeoff and crashed into a nearby industrial area. The accident claimed the lives of Angela Anderson, a 45-year-old local mother, and three UPS flight crew members — Captain Richard Wartenberg, Relief Captain Dana Diamond, and First Officer Lee Truitt.

The incident occurred around 5:13 p.m., when the three-engine McDonnell Douglas MD-11 lifted off from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, one of UPS’s primary logistics hubs. Witnesses reported seeing flames erupt from the aircraft’s left engine moments after departure, followed by a steep roll to the left. Within seconds, the plane descended rapidly and struck the ground in an industrial area approximately one and a half miles from the runway, near the 1700 block of South Park Road.

The impact destroyed much of the Sunrise Scrap & Recycle Yard, where Angela Anderson had been unloading materials. She was pronounced deceased at the scene, becoming one of the first victims on the ground.

Angela Anderson was known in the Louisville community as a hardworking mother who supported her family through her small-scale scrap business. Earlier that evening, she had kissed her longtime boyfriend, Donald Henderson, goodbye before heading out for what should have been a routine delivery. Henderson, overcome with grief, later said, “She told me she’d be home before dark. I told her, ‘Go ahead, take it.’ That’s the last thing I said to her.”

The aircraft’s three-man flight crew also lost their lives in the crash.

• Captain Richard Wartenberg, 58, a veteran pilot with over 16,000 hours of flight experience, had been with UPS for two decades and was respected for his calm leadership and expertise in the MD-11 fleet.
• Relief Captain Dana Diamond, 49, had recently completed certification for international cargo routes and was known among colleagues for her precision and dedication to flight safety.
• First Officer Lee Truitt, 34, from Albuquerque, New Mexico, was a newer addition to UPS, joining the company after serving in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. His family described him as “passionate about flying since childhood and committed to service.”

Firefighters from the Louisville Fire Department and Airport Emergency Services arrived within minutes, battling intense flames that spread across the scrapyard. The burning wreckage and aviation fuel caused explosions that scattered debris hundreds of yards away. Emergency personnel worked for more than an hour to contain the fire and secure the area.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have launched a full investigation into the cause of the crash. Early findings suggest that the left engine fire may have originated from a fuel tank issue. Records show the 34-year-old aircraft had undergone maintenance in San Antonio, Texas, where a crack in a fuel tank had been recently repaired. Investigators are now determining whether that repair contributed to the failure that brought the aircraft down.

NTSB spokesperson Jennifer Homans stated, “We are analyzing flight data and cockpit voice recorders to understand the sequence of events. Our primary focus is on the reported engine fire and any structural issues linked to recent maintenance.”

Local residents reported hearing a “loud boom” followed by thick black smoke billowing over the industrial corridor. “It felt like the ground shook,” said Raymond Miller, who lives about half a mile from the site. “When I got outside, all I saw was fire — huge flames and metal everywhere.”

The loss has shaken both the Louisville community and the UPS workforce. In a statement, UPS Airlines President Mike Price expressed condolences: “We mourn the loss of our crewmembers and extend our deepest sympathy to Ms. Anderson’s family. Their commitment and courage will never be forgotten.”

A memorial is being planned by UPS and the city to honor the four victims. Angela Anderson’s family described her as “the heart of her home,” while colleagues of the pilots remembered them as “heroes of the skies.”

As investigators continue their work, the tragedy stands as a reminder of both the risks faced by aviation professionals and the unpredictable impact such disasters can have on everyday lives.