Deadly UPS Cargo Plane Crash Shuts Down Louisville Airport

A UPS cargo plane crashed and exploded at a Kentucky airport, killing at least 7 people and injuring 11.

Deadly UPS Cargo Plane Crash Shuts Down Louisville Airport
Credit: AP Photo/Jon Cherry
  • A large UPS cargo plane crashed and exploded in Louisville, Kentucky, on Tuesday, November 4, 2025.
  • The incident occurred at approximately 5:15 p.m. at Louisville’s Muhammad Ali International Airport while the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 was taking off for Honolulu.
  • The plane was described as a cargo flight and had three people aboard.
  • The crash ignited a massive fire and explosion that looked like a "war zone," according to one local observer.
  • Tragically, the incident resulted in at least 7 people dead and 11 injured. Some injuries were described as "very significant".
  • Four of the people killed were not aboard the aircraft.
  • The impact damaged several nearby buildings, including a business named Kentucky Petroleum Recycling.
  • The airport was temporarily shut down following the crash. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is handling the investigation.