What We Know: UPS MD-11 Accident

Federal teams are on the scene after the cargo jet went down shortly after takeoff Tuesday from Louisville, Kentucky.

Meg Godlewski

Wednesday, November 05, 2025 at 04:26 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Flames and smoke rise after a UPS cargo jet crashed shortly after takeoff on Tuesday, November 4, in Louisville, Kentucky. [Credit: Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy/via X]

Key Takeaways:

A UPS MD-11 cargo jet crashed shortly after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on Tuesday night, resulting in at least nine deaths and 15 injuries, with casualty numbers expected to increase.
Initial investigations and numerous videos suggest the aircraft experienced a fire and subsequent detachment of its left engine during takeoff.
Federal investigators, led by the NTSB, are on-site searching a half-mile debris zone, and both the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder have been recovered.
The crash caused extensive damage to an auto yard and a petroleum recycling facility, leading to massive fires, and the airport is operating on a limited basis as the NTSB continues its week-long investigation.

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Federal investigators and recovery teams are on the ground in Louisville, Kentucky, searching for both survivors and victims in the crash of a UPS MD-11 on Tuesday night.

According to preliminary reports, as of Wednesday afternoon, authorities say at least nine people were killed and 15 injured when the cargo jet crashed shortly after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (KSDF).