A devastating UPS cargo plane crash in Louisville, Kentucky, has claimed at least nine lives and left several others injured, officials confirmed Wednesday. The aircraft, identified as UPS Flight 2976, was departing Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport for Honolulu when it crashed shortly after takeoff Tuesday evening, triggering a massive explosion, fireball, and widespread destruction.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear announced at a Wednesday news conference that the death toll currently stands at nine but could rise as recovery efforts continue. “I’m now fairly confident that that number will grow by at least one,” Beshear said. “We hope it doesn’t grow by too many more.” The governor has since declared a state of emergency to speed up the deployment of emergency resources and the Kentucky National Guard.
The McDonnell Douglas MD-11 cargo plane went down near several industrial buildings, setting off multiple explosions that shook the surrounding Okolona neighborhood. Local residents described scenes of chaos and fear as debris and fire spread across the area. Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg’s office said officials are still determining how many victims were on board and how many were on the ground at the time of the crash.
Okolona Fire District Chief Mark Little, speaking alongside the mayor, said search and recovery operations are expected to take time due to the vast debris field. “I don’t know how many victims we’re actually looking for. That’s one of the issues,” he said. “And the debris zone is so large… some of that debris is going to have to be moved and searched underneath, so it will take us quite a while.”
Hospitals across the city have been treating victims from the crash. Heather Fountaine, a spokesperson for the University of Louisville Health, said 15 patients were received across several hospitals. “As of this morning, 13 of those patients have been discharged,” she said, adding that two remain in critical condition.
Governor Beshear also said that at least 16 families have reported loved ones missing following the crash. Videos from the scene captured a fiery explosion that sent a huge plume of black smoke into the sky. Officials said the plane had around 38,000 gallons of jet fuel on board, which fueled the massive inferno.
“Louisville looked apocalyptic last night,” said Rep. Morgan McGarvey, D-Ky. “The images of smoke coming over our city, of debris falling in every neighborhood, people trapped in their homes… for the families who lost someone who won’t be coming home. This is awful.”
More than 200 first responders, including members from 18 fire departments, raced to the scene. Beshear praised their efforts, describing the site as a “blazing inferno” that required a massive coordinated response. “There is a significant amount of resources in the search and rescue and, ultimately, what is probably by now the recovery effort that is occurring,” he said.
Among those affected was Sean Garber, owner of Grade A Auto Parts & Recycling, whose business was struck by the explosion. “Four of our 18 buildings were destroyed,” Garber said. “There was a huge ball of fire and massive multiple explosions occurring all around and obviously people running and screaming.” He estimated that about 20 people were inside the buildings at the time. “People had to jump out windows of some of the offices because the heat had melted and blocked the doors,” he added.
Officials issued a shelter-in-place order for nearby residents, later reducing it to a quarter-mile radius around the crash site. Mayor Greenberg said about 135 customers remained without power as of Wednesday morning. Nearby restaurant Stooges Bar and Grill narrowly escaped damage and has since been assisting with recovery efforts. “We’re grateful for them,” Beshear said. “Another blessing is that this plane could have potentially hit the major Ford factory or the convention center.”
Airport operations have resumed, though delays and cancellations continue. Dan Mann, CEO of the Louisville Regional Airport Authority, said about 12% of flights were canceled following the crash. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has arrived to investigate the cause of the disaster and is expected to release preliminary findings soon.
UPS expressed deep sorrow in a statement Tuesday night. “Our heartfelt thoughts are with everyone involved,” the company said. “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.”
The company urged family members seeking information about loved ones to call 800-631-0604. With about 25,000 employees based in Louisville, UPS describes the city’s Muhammad Ali International Airport as “the
