NTSB Releases Initial Findings Amid Investigation Into the Deadly UPS Plane Crash in Kentucky
Officials have released early findings in the investigation, while the mayor confirmed how many lives were lost in the aftermath of the cargo plane crash.
The National Transportation Safety Board is desperately working to understand how a UPS cargo plane plummeted to the ground in a fiery inferno just moments after takeoff in Louisville, Kentucky.
Fire and smoke rise from the site where a UPS cargo plane crashed in Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on November 4, 2025 | Source: Getty Images
In a chilling twist, it has now been confirmed that the aircraft's left engine tore away mid-roll, sending the plane veering off course before slamming into nearby structures.
The disaster reportedly unfolded around 5:15 p.m. on November 4, 2025, at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport. Todd Inman, spokesperson for the NTSB, identified the doomed jet as a McDonnell Douglas MD-11F freighter, tail number N259UP — built in 1991 and now operated under Boeing after its merger with McDonnell Douglas.
Headed for Honolulu, Hawaii, the plane carried three crew members when tragedy struck. "The plane lifted off and gained enough altitude to clear the fence at the end of Runway 17R. Shortly after clearing that fence, it made impact with structures and the terrain off of the airport property," Inman confirmed.
Flames were spotted near the left wing during the takeoff roll, moments before liftoff. After the crash, a raging fire stretched nearly half a mile from the impact site. Emergency crews rushed to contain the blaze as federal teams began examining the wreckage.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg, speaking to WHAS 11, said there are now 12 confirmed deaths linked to the crash. No additional details about the victims have been released.
Online, the crash sent shockwaves. "How can that happen? They all go through thorough safety inspections before leaving the ground!! 😱😢😢😢😢," one stunned viewer wrote. Another speculated, "Looks like sabotage or a maintenance error," while a third warned, "Look into the mechanics I've said this is not normal !"
Investigators are reviewing video and physical evidence. "We have viewed airport CCTV security coverage, which shows the left engine detaching from the wing during the takeoff roll," Inman said. That footage, along with materials recovered from the scene, is key to unraveling the tragedy.