On the evening of Tuesday, November 4, 2025, at approximately 5:15 p.m. local time, a large cargo jet operated by UPS Airlines exploded shortly after take-off from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky.

WATCH: Dash cam video shows UPS plane crash in Louisville, Kentucky pic.twitter.com/dZdpus1fxu

— BNO News Live (@BNODesk) November 5, 2025

The aircraft, a McDonnell Douglas MD‑11F (tail number N259UP), was on a scheduled cargo flight—designated UPS Flight 2976—destined for Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, Hawaii. As the jet lifted off, video footage captured a ball of fire emanating from the left wing, followed by the aircraft crashing back onto the runway area and igniting a massive blaze.

Authorities confirmed that at least seven people have died and eleven others were injured in the incident, though the numbers may rise as the investigation continues.

The three crew members aboard the flight were confirmed by UPS to be on board at the time of the crash, but it has not been explicitly clarified whether they were among the victims.

In addition, ground casualties occurred when the jet struck two nearby industrial businesses—Kentucky Petroleum Recycling and Grade A AutoParts. The auto-parts business’s employees were all accounted for except two, who were later located.

Louisville Governor Andy Beshear warned in a news conference: “The news out of Louisville is tough tonight … that number is going to get larger.”

Investigators noted that the jet was heavily fueled for its long-haul journey to Hawaii. Some reports estimate the fuel load at 38,000 gallons, though official numbers vary. The high volume of fuel is believed to have contributed significantly to the massive fire and the spread of debris.

Debris from the crash was scattered widely—residents reported charred paper falling from the sky, Hawaiian-style dresses thought to have come from the plane, and debris ranges extending “within 10 miles.” One local, Justin Dunn, recounted:

“It fell out of the sky when I was working on the car … my son was like, ‘Hey look up in the sky’ and it was coming down out of the sky when he picked it up.”

A shelter-in-place order was issued by the Louisville Metro Police Department for the area surrounding the crash site, citing “smoke and debris” and urging residents to avoid the scene.

The crash occurred near UPS’s massive air-cargo hub, UPS Worldport, located at the Louisville airport. Worldport processes around 2 million packages daily and operates more than 300 flights each day from the site.

Following the crash, UPS halted operations at the facility through Wednesday, and employees working on the “Next Day Air” sort were told not to report to work. In a statement, UPS said:

“We are terribly saddened by the accident tonight in Louisville. Our heartfelt thoughts are with everyone involved … UPS is committed to the safety of our employees, our customers and the communities we serve.”

Mayor Craig Greenberg posted that “every emergency agency [is] responding to the scene … multiple injuries and the fire is still burning.” He urged residents to avoid road closures and the crash area.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched a full investigation. Early speculation includes possible engine separation—i.e., the left wing engine appeared to be on fire as the aircraft climbed—and the fact that the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 is a 30+ year-old model in this case (first flown in 1991) may factor in.

The NTSB team is expected to take up to two years to release a full accident report.