LOUISVILLE, KY – A UPS Airlines McDonnell Douglas MD-11 cargo jet (Flight 2976) crashed shortly after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, resulting in a significant loss of life and a massive explosion.
The aircraft, which was bound for Honolulu, Hawaii, suffered a catastrophic failure during the takeoff roll, with video evidence showing a large fire in the left wing and the left engine detaching from the wing before impact. The plane narrowly lifted off the runway but crashed into an industrial area just beyond the airport property, destroying nearby businesses and erupting into a huge fireball.
Casualties and Missing Persons
The disaster resulted in a total loss of life believed to be at least 14 people, including all three crew members aboard the aircraft: Captain Richard Wartenberg, First Officer Lee Truitt, and International Relief Officer Captain Dana Diamond. The majority of the deceased were individuals on the ground caught in the explosion and subsequent inferno.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg confirmed that as of Thursday morning, November 6, authorities were actively searching for nine people still unaccounted for, following initial reports of a higher number of missing persons.
NTSB Investigation Focuses on Maintenance
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) immediately launched a full-scale investigation into the crash. Key findings released by investigators include:
- Engine Detachment: Airport security video and bystand footage confirmed the left engine detached from the wing during the takeoff roll.
- Black Boxes Recovered: Both the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) were successfully recovered from the wreckage, despite suffering heat damage, and were sent to the NTSB laboratory in Washington, D.C., for data retrieval and analysis.
- Cockpit Warning Bell: The CVR captured a “repeating bell” that sounded about 37 seconds after the crew called for takeoff thrust and persisted until the end of the recording, signaling a critical issue, potentially the engine fire/loss. The NTSB confirmed the crew engaged in efforts to control the aircraft during this time.
In a critical development, newly-obtained FAA records confirmed the crashed jet had undergone “major maintenance” months prior to the incident, sitting on the ground in San Antonio, Texas, for over six weeks (from Sept. 3 to Oct. 18). Specifically, FAA records show the plane had a crack in part of its top fuselage and corrosion in part of its lower fuselage, leading the NTSB to closely scrutinize the aircraft’s maintenance history leading up to the crash.
Aftermath and Industry Response
In the immediate aftermath of the crash, the Louisville airport was temporarily shut down, and UPS halted package-sorting operations at its critical Worldport hub.
Following the initial investigation details, UPS took the proactive step of grounding its entire fleet of MD-11 cargo aircraft out of an abundance of caution and at the recommendation of the manufacturer (Boeing, which acquired McDonnell Douglas). FedEx, another major operator of the MD-11, also grounded its fleet.
The NTSB anticipates issuing a preliminary report on the accident within 30 days.