Governor warns death toll may rise after “catastrophic” accident halts operations at one of the world’s busiest air freight hubs.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A UPS cargo plane bound for Honolulu crashed near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on Tuesday evening, killing at least four people and injuring ten others, in what officials described as a “catastrophic” aviation accident that triggered explosions and fires across an industrial area.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that UPS Flight 2976 went down around 5:15 p.m. EST, shortly after takeoff. By nightfall, emergency crews were still working to extinguish multiple fires near the crash site, which sits adjacent to Kentucky Petroleum Recycling and Grade A Auto Parts, two businesses that sustained heavy damage. Two employees at Kentucky Petroleum remain unaccounted for, according to Governor Andy Beshear, who warned the casualty count “is likely to increase” as recovery operations continue.
The crash also disrupted power at the Ford Louisville Assembly Plant nearby and forced the temporary suspension of all arrivals and departures at the airport — a critical hub in UPS’s global air logistics network. Louisville’s airport ranks among the busiest cargo facilities in the world, handling millions of tons of freight annually.
At a press briefing Tuesday night, Louisville Metro Police said the initial shelter-in-place order, covering a five-mile radius due to concerns about hazardous materials, had been scaled back to one mile. Residents in the affected area were advised to remain indoors as fire crews contained the blaze and investigators secured the site.
Aerial footage broadcast by WLKY News, a CBS affiliate, showed flames engulfing a large stretch of industrial property just beyond the runway, with smoke plumes visible from miles away. The status of the three-person flight crew has not yet been confirmed.
“This is a devastating night for Kentucky and for the UPS family,” Governor Beshear said. “We are doing everything we can to support first responders and identify the victims of this terrible tragedy.”
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and FAA have launched a full investigation into the cause of the crash, which is among the deadliest U.S. cargo plane accidents in recent years. UPS, headquartered in Atlanta, said it was “deeply saddened” by the loss of life and is cooperating fully with federal investigators.
As search efforts continue through the night, Louisville — a city built around the heartbeat of global trade — is left reeling from a disaster that struck at the very core of its aviation economy.
