On Cam: Moment UPS Cargo Jet Crashes Near Louisville Airport, Erupts In Fireball

Last Updated:November 05, 2025, 07:27 IST

The footage shows the MD-11 freighter going down near the airfield moments after takeoff, followed by flames and a plume of smoke.

Fire and smoke mark where a UPS cargo plane crashed near Louisville Muhammad Ali Airport. (AFP)

A UPS Airlines cargo plane crashed near Muhammad Ali Airport in Louisville, Kentucky, on Thursday afternoon, triggering a fireball and a thunderous explosion that were captured in a widely shared video.

The footage shows the MD-11 freighter going down near the airfield moments after takeoff, followed by flames and a plume of smoke.

The aircraft was operating a Louisville–to–Honolulu flight, UPS said. Preliminary reports indicated injuries at the scene, though the nature and extent were not immediately clear. The company said three people were on board. Louisville Metro Police Department and other emergency crews responded to the crash site.

Also Read: 3 Dead As Large UPS Cargo Plane Crashes, Bursts Into Flames During Takeoff In Louisville | Videos

UPS, which operates its primary Worldport hub in Louisville, confirmed on X that one of its aircraft was involved and that it was cooperating with authorities. A shelter-in-place advisory was issued within a five-mile radius of the area, including Fern Valley Road, as responders worked to secure the site and manage the fire.

In a statement, UPS said that three crew members were on board the aircraft, but provided no information as to any casualties or injuries.

Aerial footage of the crash site showed a long trail of debris as firefighters blasted water onto a conflagration, with smoke billowing from the disaster area.

A nearby building appeared to have sustained damage, possibly caused by the crash.

News world On Cam: Moment UPS Cargo Jet Crashes Near Louisville Airport, Erupts In Fireball

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