Cargo flight crashes after takeoff from Louisville airport

US Plane crash: A UPS cargo aircraft crashed shortly after taking off from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on Tuesday evening (local time), according to the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The aircraft, identified as UPS Flight 2976, was bound for Honolulu when it went down around 5:15 pm local time. The FAA confirmed that the plane involved was a McDonnell Douglas MD-11.

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Investigation underway

“This information is preliminary and subject to change,” the FAA said in a statement. Officials from both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have been deployed to the crash site to lead the investigation.

UPS Airlines confirmed it had been notified of the incident involving one of its aircraft and said updates would be shared as more information becomes available.

Heartbreaking images coming out of Kentucky tonight.

Here’s an update from @FAANews
– UPS cargo flight 2976
– Crashed around 5:15 ET after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport en route to Honolulu
– The aircraft was a McDonnell Douglas MD-11.

Please… pic.twitter.com/yE1Brhv8cQ

— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) November 4, 2025

US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy expressed grief over the tragedy, calling the situation “heartbreaking.” He said both FAA and NTSB teams were mobilising to investigate and urged prayers for “the Louisville community and flight crew impacted by this horrific crash.”

At least seven people have been confirmed dead in the crash, according to Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, who warned that the number of casualties could rise further. “First responders are onsite and working hard to extinguish the fire and continue the investigation,” he said in a post on X.

The news out of Louisville is tough tonight as the death toll has now reached at least 7, with that number expected to rise. First responders are onsite and working hard to extinguish the fire and continue the investigation. 1/3

— Governor Andy Beshear (@GovAndyBeshear) November 5, 2025

Emergency teams remain at the site, and a full investigation is underway to determine the cause of the incident.