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At Least 9 Dead After UPS Cargo Jet Crashes on Takeoff in Louisville; NTSB Leads Probe

Federal investigators now lead the case following a partial restart of airport operations.

Overview

  • Officials raised the death toll to at least nine, reported 11 injured, and said 16 people remain unaccounted for as search efforts continue.
  • UPS Flight 2976, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 bound for Honolulu, crashed around 5:15 p.m. shortly after liftoff, with video showing flames on the left wing before impact.
  • The aircraft struck a petroleum recycling facility and an auto parts business near the runway, triggering large fires that were contained overnight and prompting a narrowed shelter-in-place zone.
  • The National Transportation Safety Board has assumed control of the investigation with FAA support, and teams are beginning evidence recovery and victim identification.
  • The airport resumed limited flights Wednesday morning, UPS paused overnight Worldport sorting, and officials noted the jet was fueled for a long-haul flight amid conflicting reports on exact fuel volume.