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A UPS McDonnell Douglas MD-11 cargo jet crashed shortly after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) this evening. It sent shockwaves through the city and grounded air traffic across the region. The aircraft, operating as UPS Flight 2976, was bound for Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) with three crew members on board when the incident occurred around 5:15 PM local time.
Witnesses reported seeing flames coming from the left wing and engine of the widebody cargo aircraft moments after it lifted off the runway. The jet struggled to gain altitude before descending rapidly and crashing near Grade Lane and Fern Valley Road, just beyond airport property and close to the sprawling UPS Worldport complex (the company’s largest global air hub).
The impact triggered a massive fire with thick plumes of smoke visible for miles. Local emergency dispatchers received more than 20 calls for help within minutes and first responders from multiple agencies rushed to the scene. Firefighters battled the blaze as police established perimeters and issued a shelter-in-place advisory for residents within a five-mile radius (citing the potential hazards of burning jet fuel).
Authorities confirmed injuries at the scene and it appears that the three pilots are presumed dead and 11 others have been injured. Several nearby buildings sustained significant structural damage and traffic near the airport was diverted to allow emergency vehicles unrestricted access.
All runway operations at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) were immediately suspended as emergency crews worked to contain the fire and secure the wreckage. The airport advised travelers to expect delays and cancellations with cargo and passenger operations temporarily halted.
The incident caused ripple effects through UPS’s Worldport operations. The 5.2 million-square-foot sorting facility manages more than 300 flights daily and processes over 400,000 packages per hour.
The McDonnell Douglas MD-11 is a tri-engine, long-haul cargo jet derived from the DC-10. It’s powered by three engines (one under each wing and a third mounted in the tail) and is capable of carrying over 200,000 pounds of freight on intercontinental routes.
Early video footage reviewed by aviation analysts shows a fire originating from the left engine during takeoff. The aircraft appeared to roll left shortly after liftoff before crashing near the airport perimeter. While compressor stalls can sometimes cause engine flames, early signs point toward a more severe engine failure or fuel-fed fire.
Investigators will likely focus on whether the fire began before or after takeoff and whether it was linked to mechanical failure, maintenance issues, or fuel system malfunction.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has taken the lead in the investigation. The process will include site documentation, recovery of flight data and cockpit voice recorders, and a detailed review of maintenance records and crew training logs. Representatives from UPS, Boeing (which merged with McDonnell Douglas), and engine manufacturers are expected to assist in the investigation.
UPS has acknowledged the incident and stated that it is cooperating fully with authorities while working to support affected employees and their families.
Louisville serves as the heart of UPS’ global air network, employing more than 20,000 workers in the metro area. The loss of an aircraft from its fleet represents one of the most serious operational and safety incidents in the company’s history. For the Louisville community, the event is a sobering reminder of the risks inherent in aviation (even in one of the most highly regulated and technologically advanced industries in the world).
As investigators begin the painstaking work of determining what went wrong, life and safety remain the top priorities. Airport operations are expected to resume gradually as emergency response teams complete recovery and safety assessments. Further details, including the cause of the fire, the condition of the crew, and the full impact on UPS operations will emerge in the days and weeks ahead as the NTSB releases its findings.
Anthony’s Take: My condolences to the families and friends of those lost. It will be interesting to see what this investigation yields.
(Featured Image Credit: @Jere_Memez via X.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
