Mayor: 12 dead, 9 missing in UPS plane crash; NTSB says engine ‘detached’ from jet during takeoff

BREAKING NEWS UPDATE

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) - A spokesperson for the National Transportation Safety Board said that an engine detached from the UPS jet involved in the deadly Nov. 4, 2025 crash.

Late Wednesday afternoon, Gov. Andy Beshear said an 11th person has died and that one of the victims is a child. Later, Mayor Craig Greenberg confirmed a 12th person has died. On Thursday, Greenberg confirmed that nine people are still unaccounted for.

“I had previously reported that there were 15 individuals that had been reported as missing,” Greenberg said. “We have located six of those individuals over the last 24 hours...If you do the math...we may have located all the victims. There may be more that have not yet been reported... Our hope is that we have located all of the victims at this point, but again, we do not know. The search will continue.”

Spokesperson Todd Inman also said the Flight Data Recorder and Cockpit Voice Recorder have been recovered. Inman said both of the so-called ‘Black Boxes" suffered from heat but did not sustain intrusion from the crash or the resulting fire.

The aircraft involved in the accident was an MD-11F, with registration number N259UP was manufactured in 1991.

According to Inman, the plane was cleared for takeoff on Runway 17-R (Right). After receiving clearance, the jet began it’s takeoff roll when a large plume of fire was seen coming from the left wing.

Inman said he has seen airport surveillance video showing the left engine (Engine 1) detaching from the plane. That engine was found on the airport grounds.

The aircraft lifted from the runway and cleared a fence at the end before striking structures outside of the airport property. The impact of the aircraft left a debris field approximately 1/2 mile in length.

The first full day of the NTSB investigation will begin on Thursday, Nov. 6. Inman said the NTSB expects to be in Louisville for the next week.

FBI agents are also on the scene to assist the NTSB with in the investigation.

ADDITIONAL COVERAGE:

• FBI assisting with UPS jet crash investigation
• Teamsters to host vigil to honor victims of deadly plane crash
• NTSB begins its first full day of investigation into fatal UPS crash
• Concerns linger over environmental and health impacts following UPS plane crash
• UPS Worldport begins to resume operations
• ‘Like a tornado flame’: Employees at businesses process plane crash aftermath, how to move forward
• ‘We want to help’: Volunteers support Louisville first responders of UPS plane crash
• UPS plane underwent repairs for corrosion and crack September, October
• Salvation Army supporting plane crash responders and families of victims
• Gov. Beshear declares state of emergency following UPS crash
• Gov. Beshear orders flags at half-staff for Louisville plane crash victims
• LMPD issues scam alert related to UPS plane crash
• Ali Center offers free admission to JCPS students, parents/guardians on Wednesday
• Muhammad Ali International Airport current flight status
• Big Four Bridge lit up yellow in honor of UPS plane crash
• Transportation Cabinet shares traffic impacts following UPS plane crash at Louisville SDF airport

PREVIOUS COVERAGE

During the late afternoon hours of Nov. 4, emergency crews responded to the large fire at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport following the crash. Hundreds of firefighters from across the state have worked to get the blaze under control. Crews will then perform a grid search.

According to officials, calls came in at around 5:14 p.m. of a plane crash near Fern Valley Road and Grade Lane. Grade Lane will be closed indefinitely between Stooges and Crittenden.

The FAA released the following statement regarding the crash:

UPS Flight 2976 crashed around 5:15 p.m. local time on Tuesday, Nov. 4, after departing from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky. The McDonnell Douglas MD-11 was headed to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu. The FAA and NTSB will investigate. The NTSB will lead the investigation and will provide all updates.

The official cause of the crash has not been reported at this time. The National Transportation Safety Board is the lead investigative agency. A team of 28 NTSB members arrived in Louisville Nov. 5 to begin their investigation.

A maintenance report shows that the last date of service for the MD-11 was Sept. 4, 2025.

Mayor Craig Greenberg said via X that one runway at the airport has reopened.

UPS released the following statement saying that they are halting operations due to the crash:

We are terribly saddened by the accident tonight in Louisville. Our heartfelt thoughts are with everyone involved. UPS is committed to the safety of our employees, our customers and the communities we serve. This is particularly true in Louisville, home to our airline and thousands of UPSers.

We are engaged with the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation of the accident and are staying in close contact with the Federal Aviation Administration. We will work tirelessly with state and local authorities on response efforts.

As a result of the accident, we are halting operations tonight at Worldport. The Next Day Air sort has been cancelled and employees should not report to work tonight.

UPS also says that all family members of employees seeking information should call the family assistance line at (800) 631-0604.

UPS also canceled its Second-Day Air sort shift for Wednesday, a spokesperson said. Hub and ramp employees on that shift should not report to work.

A shelter-in-place has been issued by Louisville Metro Police for all locations within a quarter-mile radius of the airport. Pedestrians are advised to avoid the area. Anyone within that area is asked to stay indoors to avoid smoke and debris.

Jeffersonville Police have also issued a shelter-in-place from the Ohio River north to Tenth Street and east along the river to the Port of Indiana.

The Health Department advises those with homes or businesses within the shelter-in-place area to turn off any air intake systems.

Law enforcement is also advising that anyone who finds debris from the crash avoid touching it and report it on the Louisville Metro Government website.

Due to the shelter-in-place order, all JCPS schools and buildings will be closed on Wednesday, Nov. 5. Extracurricular activities and athletics have also been cancelled.

The district says this will operate like a snow day with no online instruction. Air and water quality will be tested at all schools near the crash site.

UPS said there were three crew members on board the plane.

LMPD requests that anyone seeking loved ones to not go to local hospitals, as they are not equipped to handle family reunification. Families are advised to instead report to the Family Reunification Area at the LMPD Training Facility at 2911 Taylor Boulevard.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg released the following statement regarding the crash:

Rachel and I are praying for victims of the UPS plane that crashed during takeoff at 5:15 p.m. We have every emergency agency responding to the scene. There are multiple injuries and the fire is still burning. There are many road closures in the area – please avoid the scene. The plane was carrying 280,000 gallons of fuel. We’ll have a briefing soon with Governor Beshear. We’ll provide more details as they are available.

SDF says that all arriving and departing flights are temporarily suspended and the airfield is closed.

People near the airport reported finding Hawaiian style dresses near the site of the crash that appear to have come from the plane.