Fatal Crash of UPS Cargo Plane at Louisville Airport

Shortly after takeoff yesterday evening (Nov. 4), UPS Flight 2976 from Louisville, KY, to Honolulu, an MD-11 with three crewmembers onboard, was involved in an accident in Louisville. The National Transportation Safety Board is in charge of the investigation and will be the primary source of information about the official investigation. In a brief statement, the NTSB said ​​the flight “crashed during takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF), Louisville, KY. The flight was a cargo flight from SDF to Daniel K Inouye International Airport (HNL), Honolulu, HI. The aircraft impacted buildings in an industrial area near the airport.”

At this writing, it’s known that at least 11 people were killed, including all three crew members of the flight; 15 were injured, and 16 people are unaccounted for. According to Todd Inman, spokesperson for the NTSB, the left wing of the plane caught fire during takeoff roll, and the left engine detached. What caused the fire has not yet been determined.

The investigation is ongoing, and according to an early report from USA Today, it could take a year or more before the investigation is completed.

Due to the government shutdown, the NTSB’s ability to provide updates could be impacted. You can view a video of the initial press briefing from the NTSB here.

In a statement from UPS, the company stated, “Our heartfelt thoughts are with everyone involved. UPS is committed to the safety of our employees, our customers and the communities we serve. This is particularly true in Louisville, home to our airline and thousands of UPSers. We are engaged with the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation of the accident and are staying in close contact with the Federal Aviation Administration. We will work tirelessly with state and local authorities on response efforts.”