UPS MD-11F Crashes In Louisville

A UPS MD-11F has crashed moments after departure from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF).

UPS Flight 2976 was scheduled to be a routine service to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) in Hawaii.

The Federal Aviation Adminsitration confirmed the aircraft crashed just after 1700 local time following departure from Runway 17R, going down just south of the airport perimeter.

Upon impact with the ground, smoke and flames could be visible from miles away, as captured in videos, imagery, and live broadcasts. The area where the jet was going down was known for its sprawling industrial precinct.

Details on the cause of the incident naturally remain scarce, and thorough investigations are needed to determine what led the aircraft to go down.

Videos from the airport, recorded by witnesses, show the left-hand engine engulfed in flames during what was meant to be a routine takeoff.

Additionally, those same videos show the MD-11 appearing not to gain altitude during takeoff, which would be typical for a regular departure. Shortly after this, the aircraft burst into flames upon impact with the ground.

Flightradar24 data shows that the last signal from the aircraft was received at 1713 local time, indicating the plane was travelling at 184 knots at ground level.

In a statement, UPS said there were three people aboard the aircraft; however, the company did not confirm their status.

Details On The UPS MD-11F

The MD-11F was registered as N259UP and first delivered in 1991, where it operated passenger services with Thai Airways under the registration of HS-TME.

The Thailand-based carrier named the aircraft Panthum Wan and withdrew it from operations in February 2006.

Following a withdrawal, the aircraft was converted to a freighter and began operations with UPS on 29 June 2006. At the time of the incident, the aircraft was 34.4 years of age.

Before the aircraft crashed on 4 November 2025, local time, it had operated a service between Louisville (SDF) and Baltimore (BWI), returning as 5X1214 and 5X2215 in the morning.

These MD-11 Freighters have long been a staple across the United States, primarily seen with UPS and FedEx for crucial freight transportation over the years.

The MD-11 is known for its iconic trijet configuration, with two engines on the wings and the third at the rear of the aircraft. While it still plays a role today, its prime occurred many decades ago, when it also served as a passenger plane.