At least nine people have been confirmed dead after a UPS cargo aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky on Tuesday evening.
The McDonnell Douglas MD-11, bound for Hawaii, went down around 5:15 p.m. local time, bursting into flames after hitting commercial buildings located just outside the airport perimeter.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear described the accident as “heartbreaking,” saying the number of fatalities could rise as search-and-rescue operations continue.
“The number of those lost has now risen to at least nine, with the possibility of more,” Beshear posted on X. He added that 16 families had reported loved ones missing, urging support and prayers for those affected.
UPS confirmed that three crew members were aboard the aircraft but said it had not yet verified casualties.
The crash temporarily halted airport operations and led to the suspension of package sorting at UPS Worldport, the company’s main global logistics hub based in Louisville. The airport reopened its runway early Wednesday, according to Mayor Craig Greenberg.
Footage from local media showed one engine on fire moments before takeoff, with aerial images later revealing scattered debris and firefighters battling intense flames and smoke. The plane reportedly struck a petroleum recycling facility directly on impact.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have opened an investigation into the cause of the crash.
The incident occurred amid a prolonged U.S. government shutdown. Earlier in the day, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned of strain on the aviation system due to staffing shortages among air traffic controllers.
The crash is expected to become one of the deadliest in UPS’s history.
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