The death toll from the plane crash at Muhammad Ali International Airport in Louisville, Kentucky, on Tuesday, November 4, has risen to 11 people, state and local authorities confirmed. The incident, which involved a United Parcel Service (UPS) cargo plane, caused a major fire that forced the temporary closure of the air terminal and the suspension of flights in the area.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg reported via social networking site X (formerly Twitter) that emergency crews were able to recover the bodies of nine victims at the crash site. “We will continue to provide information as it becomes available. Our prayers are with the families affected by this tragedy,” the official wrote.
Deaths toll rises after UPS plane crash
❗️⚠️🇺🇸 – UPS Airlines Flight 2976, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 cargo plane en route to Honolulu, crashed shortly after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport around 5:15 p.m. ET on November 4, 2025, near the UPS Worldport facility at Fern Valley Road and Grade… pic.twitter.com/dgeSbskZId
– 🔥🗞The Informant (@theinformant_x) November 4, 2025
The governor of Kentucky, Andy Beshear, regretted the incident and warned that the death toll could rise in the coming hours.
“Kentucky is once again facing a devastating day. The death toll has risen and there could be more. At this time, the families need our prayers, love and support. Let us surround them with our love and solidarity,” the governor said in an official statement.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), UPS Flight 2976 had taken off from the Louisville airport around 5:15 p.m. bound for Honolulu, Hawaii, when it lost altitude just seconds after takeoff.
According to the preliminary report, the aircraft reached a height of about 55 meters before plunging to the ground and impacting near a parking area of the airport.
The collision caused an explosion and a massive fire, visible several kilometers away.
Images posted on social media showed a plume of black smoke rising into the sky and a long line of fire crossing part of the airport grounds.
Local authorities issued a shelter-in-place order for residents in areas north of the airport, up to the Ohio River, due to dense smoke and the possible presence of toxic materials in the air.
Fire crews and hazardous materials units worked for hours to control the flames.
Operations suspended and airport temporarily closed
🇺🇸 | PLANE CRASH
The death toll from yesterday’s crash of a UPS Airlines MD-11 cargo plane during takeoff from Muhammad Ali Airport in Louisville, Kentucky, stands at 9, with at least 15 injured and 16 missing, according to Kentucky’s governor. pic.twitter.com/T7m7BzoC7k
– CasiPolitikNEWS (@CasiPolitikNews) November 5, 2025
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have already initiated an investigation to determine the cause of the accident.
At this time, it has not been confirmed whether it was a mechanical failure, human error or adverse weather conditions.
UPS said in a statement that it is cooperating fully with the authorities and that its priority is to “provide support to the families of the affected employees.”
Louisville is home to UPS’s largest U.S. air hub, known as Worldport, a logistics complex that handles hundreds of daily flights and more than 290 aircraft.
From there, the company coordinates the shipment of millions of packages every night throughout the country and to international destinations.
Following the accident, the air terminal temporarily suspended operations and issued flight restrictions within a radius of 8 kilometers.
However, the FAA confirmed hours later that the airport had partially reopened, allowing some commercial and cargo flights to resume.
A tragedy with national impact
The incident occurred in a context of high air traffic prior to the end-of-year festivities, one of the most intense seasons for courier companies in the United States.
The temporary disruption of operations in Louisville could affect the logistics and package delivery chain in several regions of the country.
Atlanta-based UPS issued a statement deeply regretting the loss of life.
We are devastated by this tragic accident. Our thoughts are with the families of our colleagues and all those affected
UPS
The company has set up hotlines for employees’ families and local communities.
The NTSB announced that it will send a team of commercial aviation accident investigators to analyze flight records, the black box and engine conditions. Preliminary results will be known in the coming weeks.
Governor Beshear concluded his message by reiterating his support for the rescue teams.
“I deeply appreciate the firefighters, police and medical personnel who risked their lives to contain the fire and assist in recovery efforts. Kentucky is a strong state, and together we will overcome this tragedy,” he said.
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