LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A UPS cargo aircraft crashed and exploded in a massive fireball Tuesday evening while departing from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, killing at least seven people and injuring 11 others, according to local authorities.
The incident occurred around 5:15 p.m. as the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 aircraft, built in 1991, was taking off en route to Honolulu from UPS Worldport, the company’s global aviation hub. Video footage captured flames erupting from the plane’s left wing before it briefly lifted off the ground and then crashed, triggering a violent explosion.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear described the crash as “incredibly violent,” noting that some of the injured sustained “very significant” trauma. He added that the status of the three crew members aboard the aircraft remains unknown as investigations continue.
UPS confirmed the crash in a brief statement, indicating that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) would lead the investigation. The airport was immediately shut down and is not expected to resume operations until Wednesday morning, pending safety assessments.
Louisville Metro Council member Betsy Ruhe expressed deep concern for the local community, noting that many residents have family or friends employed at UPS. “Sadly, some of those texts are probably going to go unanswered,” she said, referring to the frantic messages being exchanged in the aftermath.
Nearby businesses were also affected, including Kentucky Petroleum Recycling, which was reportedly struck directly, and a neighboring auto parts facility. Louisville Police Chief Paul Humphrey said authorities are still working to secure the crash site and assess the full extent of the damage.
Eyewitness Leirim Rodríguez captured video of the explosion, showing successive fireballs and thick black smoke billowing into the sky. “It looked like a war zone,” said Tom Brooks Jr., who operates a metal recycling business near the crash site.
Destyn Mitchell, a restaurant host at an Outback Steakhouse located 15 minutes from the airport, said the loud boom caused panic among diners. “Everyone is really concerned,” she said. “People packed up their food and left quickly to get home.”
Aviation attorney Pablo Rojas suggested the aircraft may have struggled to gain altitude due to a fire near one of its engines. He warned that the large volume of fuel onboard could have accelerated the explosion, likening the plane to “a bomb” under such conditions.
Louisville’s airport sits just minutes from downtown and is surrounded by residential neighborhoods, cultural attractions, and recreational areas. The crash has left the city shaken, with officials urging patience as emergency crews and investigators work through the wreckage.
