Seven killed as UPS plane crashes in Kentucky

A cargo plane operated by UPS Airlines crashed minutes after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky, United States, on November 4, 2025, at 5:15 pm local time. The crash caused major disruption at the airport’s cargo hub and prompted US aviation authorities to launch an investigation.

According to the initial reports, the aircraft, a McDonnell Douglas MD‑11F, was departing on a scheduled cargo flight for Honolulu when it came down crashing near the runway just after take-off, erupting into flames and igniting fire in an adjacent industrial zone. 

Officials have confirmed that at least seven people have been killed, including all three crew members on board and four people on the ground while 11 others are seriously injured. 

The Mayor of Louisville, Craig Greenberg, stated that the death toll may rise.

The footage of the crash and initial tracking data shows that the aircraft lifted off but then quickly descended and crashed near the runway, with visible flames on the left-wing during climb-out. 

The crash sent thick black smoke into the sky signalling a shelter-in-place order for residents within a five-mile radius. 

The site of the crash is also home to major cargo facility known as UPS Worldport. Employing around 20,000 people and processing millions of packages each day, it is the company’s largest air-hub globally, located at the Louisville airport.

The facility’s operations were immediately shut down, disturbing flights and deliveries.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have begun a formal investigation on this crash. One of the key focuses will be on the cause of engine fire and why the three-engine aircraft was unable to sustain a normal flight. 

The local officials have urged the workers and residents to avoid the area, as emergency services continued firefighting and clearing the debris. Governor Andy Beshear said that the state would offer support to the crash victims and their families. 

The NTSB is expected to take up to two years to release a full accident report.