UPS plane crash kills 7 in Kentucky, fatality and injury numbers expected to grow
Dante Ulanday - News Moderator 
(NEXSTAR) – A UPS plane with three crew members aboard crashed in Louisville, Kentucky shortly after takeoff Tuesday evening, taking the lives of at least seven people and causing an extensive fire, officials confirmed.
"We know so far there are 7 fatalities and 11 injured. But we are still actively searching the scene," Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said in a statement just before 10:20 p.m. ET. Greenberg added that more than 100 firefighters were working at the scene, where there were still hotspots and road closures.
Gov. Andy Beshear said that some of the injured had "very significant injuries." He said he believed the number of fatalities and injuries would "get larger" as the investigation continued.
The crash happened around 5:15 p.m., shortly after UPS Flight 2976 took off from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF), an FAA spokesperson told Nexstar. The flight was bound for Honolulu.
The plane's cargo didn't contain anything hazardous, but was full of 220,000 pounds of jet fuel. Photos from the scene showed towering flames and a cloud of black smoke extending skyward.
Beshear said at least two businesses were hit: Kentucky Petroleum Recycling and Grade A Auto Parts. All employees but two at the auto shop were accounted for, the governor said, but they were not sure how many customers were there at the time.
Airport officials announced that all departing flights for Nov. 4 were canceled. The airport is a main hub for UPS.
"This is a UPS town," said local councilwoman Betsy Ruhe. "My cousin is a UPS pilot. My tennis partner is a UPS pilot. The intern in my office works overnight at UPS to pay for college. We all know somebody who works at UPS. And they’re all texting their friends, their family, trying to make sure everyone is safe. Sadly, some of those texts are probably going to go unanswered."
Officials were holding off on releasing more information on the victims until they could contact next of kin.
The Louisville Metro Police Dept. announced that a shelter-in-place was issued for "all locations within 5 miles of the airport" after reports of the plane crash. Officials urged people to steer clear in a Tuesday evening press conference, saying it was not safe to approach the scene.
Jefferson County Public Schools announced that all schools and buildings would be closed Wednesday because of the shelter-in-place order.
A fireball erupts near airport property after reports of a plane crash at Louisville International Airport, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry) 
A plume of smoke wafts over airport property after reports of a plane crash at Louisville International Airport, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry) 
This photo provided by Brad Harvey shows thick, black smoke rising after reports of a plane crash near Louisville International Airport, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (Brad Harvey via AP)
"This is an active scene with fire and debris," the department said on X. "Stay away."
Aerial video shot by local news station WLKY showed a large swath of buildings ablaze, with lights from emergency vehicles stretching for blocks.
It's not yet clear what caused the cargo plane, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11, to crash. The long-range aircraft model was first created in 1991, according to the Delta Flight Museum.
Officials urged passengers scheduled to fly into or out of SDF to monitor their flight status with the airline's website or mobile app.
The NTSB is leading the investigation into the "catastrophic crash," Beshear said.
