At approximately 7:23 p.m., on November 4, 2025, a UPS McDonnell Douglas MD-11F Freighter aircraft bearing registration number N259UP, and operated as UPS Flight 2976, departed from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Louisville, Kentucky and crashed immediately upon takeoff. The UPS cargo flight, which was destined for Honolulu, Hawaii, exploded into flames causing extensive injuries and damage in the debris path. Surveillance video captured the takeoff and crash and demonstrated that the left engine was on fire as the aircraft began to lift off the runway and when it slammed into an industrial area near the airport where several businesses are located. The McDonnell Douglas manufactured aircraft (which has since been taken over by Boeing) had three crew members on board all of whom were killed in the crash. At least 9 ground victims were killed, many more were injured and the authorities in Kentucky believe that the death toll will unfortunately rise. Ground victims also suffered severe burn and blunt impact injuries as a result of the crash and ensuing fire. The fire was extensive as the aircraft carried significant fuel for the flight to Hawaii. The airport in Louisville is the largest hub for UPS, where approximately 400 flights land and depart each day.
The MD 11 aircraft entered service in 1991 and was originally configured for passenger operations. In 2006 the aircraft was re-configured for cargo operations and has been part of the UPS fleet since that time. Although early in the investigation, it is known that the left engine separated from the aircraft during the takeoff roll and was found on the runway. Several early reports indicated that the flight was delayed due to maintenance issues associated with the left engine which caught fire and separated during takeoff. UPS, however, has since denied those reports, stating that the flight was not delayed nor did it undergo maintenance prior to the flight. The aircraft, however, did undergo extensive maintenance in the month of October, but it is presently unknown the precise nature of that maintenance. This undoubtedly will be a focus of the investigation.
The National Transportation Safety Board is on-site and is the lead agency responsible for the accident investigation. Parties to the investigation will include Boeing, as the manufacturer responsible for the aircraft’s type certificate as a result of its takeover of McDonnell Douglas, General Electric, the manufacturer of the three CF6-80C2D1F engines that were installed on the aircraft, UPS (the largest employer in Louisville, Kentucky), as the aircraft operator, as well as the Federal Aviation Administration. Other entities may become parties to the NTSB’s investigation as more facts become known.
The aircraft’s cockpit voice and digital flight data recorders, known as the “black boxes” have been recovered and sent to the NTSB’s lab in Washington D.C. for analysis. The black boxes will provide significant insight into the cause of this tragedy.
Picture of the UPS MD-11 accident aircraft
Speiser Krause has extensive experience in crashes that have occurred on takeoff due to numerous issues, including, maintenance, aircraft design, and pilot error. Speiser is monitoring the investigation and will provide additional updates as more information becomes available.