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What We Know: UPS MD-11 Accident

Federal investigators and recovery teams are on the ground in Louisville, Kentucky, searching for both survivors and victims in the crash of a UPS MD-11 on Tuesday night.

According to preliminary reports, as of Wednesday afternoon, authorities say at least nine people were killed and 15 injured when the cargo jet crashed shortly after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (KSDF). 

The FAA on Wednesday morning put a temporary flight restriction (TFR) over the area to allow first responders and investigators to operate drones as part of the probe.

During a press conference, National Transportation Safety Board spokesman Todd Inman noted the agency has a team of 28 investigators on-site with many more offering support service back in Washington, D.C.

What Happened

According to a statement from the FAA, “UPS Flight 2976 crashed around 5:15 p.m. local time [CST] on Nov. 4. The McDonnell Douglas MD-11 was headed to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport [PHNL] in Honolulu. The FAA and NTSB are on the scene investigating. The NTSB will lead the investigation and provide all updates.”

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford on Wednesday posted on X: “Our thoughts are with the families of the tragic UPS Flight 2976 crash flight crew. We have been in touch with the UPS team, and @FAANews will have a team of experts on the ground starting today to work closely with the NTSB to investigate the cause of this crash. We also launched a support team to provide resources to the controllers on duty at the time of the crash.”

As of Wednesday afternoon, the names of the crew and their status had not been officially released. The aviation community, however, has been quick to post an image of a black ribbon inscribed with “UPS 2976”.

Multiple reports from area authorities note there are as many as 16 people missing since the crash. Residents in the area described Tuesday’s aftermath as “apocalyptic,” with black billowing smoke and flames reaching high into the air.

Fire agencies from across the state responded to the scene, and initially 30 ambulances were dispatched. Search and rescue has been deployed through the debris zone, which according to Inman, covers a half a mile. Firefighters remain on scene to deal with hot spots and make sure the area is safe for investigators.

 Officials also said a coroner is on scene to help with victim identification. 

The intensity of the fire destroyed much of the aircraft fuselage and vehicles in the auto yard where the aircraft went down. However, Inman said the flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR) have been located and recovered.

Authorities also are monitoring the air and water quality in the vicinity of the crash but say there are no reports of environmental hazards.

Abundant Videos

The crash was captured from multiple angles by dashcams and surveillance video from businesses both on and near the airport.

Video shot from the ramp shows flames on the plane’s left wing and a trail of smoke, then the left engine appears to depart the aircraft.

The plane lifted slightly off the ground enough to clear the fence at the south end of the airport but did not climb above the roofline of single-story buildings off the extended centerline. The aircraft came down near an auto yard and petroleum recycling facility and exploded in a huge fireball.

One video shows the airplane in a knife-edge attitude, the left wing dragging on the ground and disintegrating as it spews burning fuel. Another video also revealed portions of a building’s shredded roof next to the end of the runway.

One of the first videos to be shared to social media appeared to have come from a vehicle on the ramp at the airport. It captures the aircraft’s takeoff roll.

As the jet appears from the right side of the camera frame, a voice notes that it appears the left engine appears to be on fire as the aircraft lifts off and lists to the left but doesn’t appear to be climbing. The voice then exclaims, “He’s going to crash!” and then the aircraft collides with a building off the end of the runway.

Images captured from another angle show the roof of a building with a tear through it as if a can opener was dragged across it.

Video captured by a surveillance camera on the front of a business located approximately 1 mile off the departure end of the runway shows the aircraft in profile with its left wing down and nosewheel deployed as it crashes into an industrial complex, sending up a fireball and black smoke.

Families searching for missing loved ones who were thought to be in the vicinity at the time of the crash also went to the area. Authorities quickly created a reunification center at the local police department training facility and urged people not to swarm local hospitals looking for the missing.

The local media has been warning residents not to pick up wreckage but rather leave it where it is and call authorities because it is evidence that needs to be cataloged and studied. Images of envelopes, clothing, and what appears to be the left engine, found on the runway have appeared on social media.

Inman confirmed the image of the engine is authentic, and it appears it detached from the aircraft during takeoff.

At least 15 people were transported to local hospitals with injuries following the crash, with at least two reported to be in critical condition.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear reported that casualty numbers are expected to increase as investigators sift through the wreckage. Beshear declared a state of emergency Wednesday morning to help the state allocate resources to help with the accident aftermath.

Area residents reported smoke still lingering Wednesday morning. Right after the accident a shelter-in-place order was issued due to the thick smoke coming from the wreckage and destroyed buildings. The aircraft was loaded with 280,000 pounds of fuel. In addition, recovery fuel tanks at the fuel recycling center also exploded.

The airport, with parallel runways 17/35, was closed shortly after the crash and has since reopened on a limited basis. However, several taxiways and a runway remain closed to allow the NTSB to search for wreckage.

The NTSB expects to be on-site for at least a week.

Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport serves as the main air hub for UPS, which has a 5-million-square-foot sorting facility at the southern end.

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