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UPS MD-11 crash near Louisville kills 3 crew
UPS MD-11 crash after takeoff from Louisville’s Worldport hub killed all three crew members.
A UPS MD-11 freighter, registration N259UP, operating as UPS Flight 2976 to Honolulu, crashed and burned shortly after departing Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) at about 5:15 p.m. local time on Tuesday. The jet climbed to roughly 200 feet before rolling left and impacting an industrial area, triggering a large fire. All three people on board were killed and at least 11 people were reported injured on the ground.
Witnesses and local officials described a rapid, catastrophic event near Louisville’s Worldport cargo hub. The aircraft type involved, the McDonnell Douglas MD-11, is a three-engine freighter used widely in global cargo fleets. The crash forced a temporary closure of SDF and led to several cargo flight diversions while emergency crews battled the blaze and secured the scene.
UPS MD-11 crash: what we know and what comes next
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has opened a formal investigation and said a preliminary report is expected within 10 days. Investigators will collect flight data recorders, examine maintenance and crew records, and interview witnesses and responders. Louisville authorities are coordinating on-site response and community safety for nearby industrial and residential areas.
- Immediate facts: UPS MD-11 crash involved N259UP on UPS Flight 2976; reached ~200 ft, rolled left, impacted industrial area; 3 crew killed, 11+ injured on ground.
- Airport impact: temporary closure of SDF/Worldport hub and cargo diversions.
- Investigation: NTSB lead; preliminary findings due in about 10 days.
This incident will prompt scrutiny of operational, maintenance and procedural factors for cargo operators. UPS’s Louisville Worldport is a major node in the global logistics network, so disruptions can ripple across cargo schedules. We will update this story as official NTSB releases, airport statements and UPS communications become available.
