On November 4, 2025, around 5:15 p.m. Eastern, UPS Flight 2976 crashed shortly after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky. The cargo jet, headed for Honolulu, reportedly “failed to gain altitude, reaching just 175 feet before descending rapidly.” Witnesses said flames were seen on the left wing and engine before impact.
The MD-11F aircraft, registered as N259UP, first flew in 1991 and joined UPS in 2006. At 34 years old, it was near the end of its operational lifespan. The MD-11 has a “complex handling reputation,” and its heavy fuel load for the long flight heightened the explosion risk.
Authorities confirmed three fatalities and eleven injuries. The crash hit an industrial area, damaging a petroleum-recycling plant and a warehouse. A shelter-in-place order covered a five-mile radius due to smoke and chemical hazards.
The accident occurred near UPS’s Worldport hub, forcing temporary shutdowns and possible global delivery delays.
The FAA and NTSB are investigating potential engine failure, maintenance issues, and pilot response. UPS pledged full cooperation, while investigators search for answers to how a routine flight “turned into a tragedy within moments.”
