Louisville (US), Nov 5: A UPS cargo aircraft crashed shortly after taking off from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on Tuesday evening (local time), the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed.
The aircraft, identified as UPS Flight 2976, was bound for Honolulu when it went down around 5:15 pm local time. According to preliminary reports, the plane involved in the crash was a McDonnell Douglas MD-11.
In a statement, the FAA said, “This information is preliminary and subject to change,” adding that officials from both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have been deployed to the crash site to lead the investigation.
UPS Airlines acknowledged the incident in a brief statement on X, saying, “We have been notified of an incident involving one of our aircraft. Updates will be posted.”
Expressing grief over the tragedy, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said, “Heartbreaking images coming out of Kentucky tonight.” He added that FAA and NTSB teams were mobilising to investigate the crash. “Please join me in prayer for the Louisville community and flight crew impacted by this horrific crash,” Duffy wrote.
As of now, there are no official details on casualties or the cause of the crash. Emergency response teams continue to work at the scene, and the area has been cordoned off as investigators begin assessing the wreckage.
The incident has shocked the Louisville community, with authorities urging residents to avoid the area while recovery and investigative operations are underway.