Louisville UPS Cargo Jet Crash Kills 12; Flight Recorders Recovered

Post by : Raina Nasser

Investigators say they have located the flight recorders from a UPS freighter that burst into flames during takeoff at Louisville International Airport on Tuesday, an accident that has killed at least 12 people, including three crew members.

The 34-year-old MD-11 freighter — en route to Honolulu with a three-person flight crew — exploded into a fireball shortly after lift-off and collided with buildings in an industrial area. The aircraft struck a petroleum recycling plant, triggering an explosion and widespread conflagration. Todd Inman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported that one of the jet’s three engines came off the left wing during the takeoff roll.

Officials confirmed on Wednesday that both the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder, built to endure intense impact and heat, were found intact. The NTSB will transfer the devices to its Washington, D.C., laboratory for detailed examination. A preliminary report is expected within about 30 days, while a comprehensive probe could stretch from 12 to 24 months.

State of Emergency Declared

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency to speed coordination of response and recovery efforts. Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said on social media that 12 people have died and that authorities are still accounting for others. At least 11 individuals on the ground were injured, with several suffering serious wounds.

Some 200 firefighters and emergency responders, supported by around 50 apparatus, battled to bring the blaze under control, which sent a plume of thick black smoke across the city. Nearby key facilities — including a convention center, a restaurant and a Ford Motor Co. plant — were not seriously damaged.

Impact on UPS Operations

The accident temporarily closed Louisville International Airport and disrupted operations at UPS Worldport, the company’s main global sorting hub. While the airport resumed limited flights, the runway involved is expected to remain unavailable for up to 10 days. UPS said it restarted some hub activity Wednesday evening and aimed to restore normal flight schedules by Thursday morning.

This event is the first fatal UPS cargo aircraft accident since August 2013. The MD-11, originally built by McDonnell Douglas (now part of Boeing), remains in use by major cargo carriers such as FedEx and UPS. Aviation authorities are concentrating on the reported engine separation during takeoff, even as the MD-11 is capable of flying with one engine out.

Ongoing Investigation

The NTSB will lead the investigation with support from Boeing and GE Aerospace. Safety analyst Anthony Brickhouse said the engine fire and the detachment will likely be central to the inquiry, along with the consequences of losing an engine while the aircraft was fully fueled for an 8½-hour flight.

Officials have stressed there is no evidence linking the crash to the recent U.S. government shutdown that affected some air traffic services. Investigators will examine all technical, mechanical and operational factors before issuing any safety recommendations.

As recovery and cleanup continue, local authorities are prioritizing public safety while clearing wreckage. The community and UPS staff are confronting the human toll, even as regulators prepare an exhaustive review that could influence cargo flight safety standards for years ahead.