Louisville Plane Crash: 3 Dead, 11 Injured As UPS Cargo Jet Explodes After Takeoff

A UPS cargo plane crashed during takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on November 4, triggering a massive fire and thick black smoke visible for miles. The McDonnell Douglas MD-11 aircraft was carrying three crew members, and Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear confirmed multiple injuries.

Mayor Craig Greenberg expressed concern over the 280,000 gallons of jet fuel onboard, creating a severe fire hazard. Authorities issued a shelter-in-place order for areas north of the airport up to the Ohio River. Louisville, home to UPS’s largest global hub, handles hundreds of flights and over 400,000 packages hourly. The FAA and NTSB have launched investigations to determine the cause of the crash.