Updated: MD-11 Crashes in Kentucky

Three crew members were on the aircraft, UPS said.

A UPS MD-11 aircraft
A UPS MD-11 aircraft. (Photo: Shutterstock | Robin Guess)
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Key Takeaways:

  • A UPS MD-11 aircraft operating as flight 2976 crashed near Louisville, Kentucky.
  • The incident has resulted in reported injuries and visible plumes of black smoke near the airport.
  • Multiple agencies, including the FAA and NTSB, are currently investigating the crash.
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A UPS McDonnell Douglas MD-11F has crashed near Louisville, Kentucky, the Federal Aviation Administration said Tuesday evening.

The aircraft — registered as N259UP — was operating flight 2976 to Honolulu.

Social media reports show plumes of black smoke near the airport.

During a press conference, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said at least nine people were killed, with that number expected to rise.

He says the count is preliminary, and some of the injured have “very significant” injuries.

“At approximately 5:20 PM ET tonight, UPS Flight 2976 from Louisville, KY, to Honolulu, an MD-11 with three crewmembers onboard, was involved in an accident in Louisville. At this time, we have not confirmed any injuries/casualties,” UPS said in an initial statement.

Both the NTSB and FAA are investigating.

The last deadly accident involving a UPS aircraft was in 2013, according to Cirium Fleet Analyzer data.

This is a developing story last updated on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2025, at 9:23 a.m. ET.

Ryan Ewing

Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com in February 2013 and has spent more than a decade covering the airline business. His work has been featured by CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. His aviation experience spans airport operations, Part 135 regulatory compliance, and airline crew workforce planning, along with time behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 and interviews with airline executives. Ryan now serves as Group President of Firecrown Media’s Aviation Group. He holds a B.S. in Air Transportation Management and an MBA from Arizona State University and teaches Airline Management at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
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