Breaking: UPS MD-11 Freighter Crashes During Takeoff At Louisville (SDF)
ID 360155937 © Bjorn Wylezich | Dreamstime.com
At a glance
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Date / time: Tue, Nov 4, 2025 ~ 17:13 EST
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Operator: UPS Airlines (5X)
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Flight: UPS 2976 (SDF → HNL)
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Aircraft: McDonnell Douglas MD-11F, reg N259UP, ~34 years old
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Occupants: 3 crew
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Airport: Louisville Muhammad Ali Intl — SDF / KSDF
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Runway: 17R (takeoff roll began ~17:12)
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Location: Impact south of the airfield; post-crash fire/explosion
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Status: Airport closed; shelter-in-place orders issued and later expanded; NTSB leading the investigation
Warning: Video contains mature language and graphic imaging:
Loudly heard the explosion, and the several booms afterwards and the smoke plume from the explosion all the way here in Mt Washington. Please keep those affected in your thoughts and prayers. Such a tragedy! #UPSPlaneCrash #UPS2976 pic.twitter.com/r6N2d71M4G
— shelbyy 🤎 (@ShelbyWx_) November 5, 2025
What happened
UPS Flight 2976 to Honolulu (HNL / PHNL) began its takeoff roll on Runway 17R at approximately 17:12 EST. Witness video shows the MD-11 on fire as it struggled to gain altitude; available flight data indicates the aircraft accelerated to roughly 184 kt (211 mph) but did not become airborne. The jet crashed south of the runway around 17:13 and exploded, producing a large fire and black smoke plume. Three crewmembers were aboard.
Emergency responders from multiple agencies converged on the site. Initial reports noted debris near the runway, including an engine cowling, and damage to a nearby building from the blast and fire.
Timeline
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~15:00 — Scheduled departure time; flight later delayed >2 hours.
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17:12 — Takeoff roll begins on 17R.
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~17:13 — Impact and explosion south of SDF; airport shuts down.
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~17:30 — Shelter-in-place ordered within 5 miles of SDF; about 30 minutes later expanded north of the airport to the Ohio River.
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After 19:00 — Airport reports 19 delays / 25 cancellations; TSA screening temporarily suspended.
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Evening — UPS confirms the accident; NTSB named lead; FAA to support.
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Later update — Boeing states it will support UPS and the NTSB’s work.
Early indicators & unknowns
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Fire location: Video suggests left-side engine involvement prior to impact; origin remains unconfirmed.
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Rotation: Data and witness footage indicate the aircraft never lifted off.
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Fuel load: The SDF–HNL sector (~4,300 mi, ~9 hours) implies heavy fuel, contributing to the post-impact fire.
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Cause: Unknown. Investigators will examine powerplant, airframe, systems, maintenance, loads, crew actions, ATC/airport conditions, and FDR/CVR data.
Airport & community impact
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Operations: SDF closed following the explosion; screening paused; passengers advised to monitor airline apps for rebooking.
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Public safety: Shelter-in-place directives issued/expanded due to smoke and potential hazards.
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Delays/cancellations: By 19:21 EST, 19 delays and 25 cancellations were logged.
Aircraft & operator details
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Type: McDonnell Douglas MD-11F (tri-jet freighter)
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Registration: N259UP
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History: Ordered 1988; delivered 1991 to Thai Airways as a passenger MD-11; converted/ferried to UPS in 2006 and operated as a freighter since.
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Recent activity: Arrived earlier as UPS 2215 from Baltimore (BWI); regularly rotated through SDF (UPS’ main hub) and stations including ONT, PDX, TPA, MIA, OAK, EWR, DFW, SEA in the prior week.
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Forthcoming plan: Airframe was projected to retire later this month.
Route & identifiers
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Accident flight: UPS 2976 / 5X2976 — Louisville (SDF/KSDF) → Honolulu (HNL/PHNL)
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Runway used: 17R at SDF
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Planned next leg (post-HNL): HNL → Ontario, CA (ONT/KONT) as UPS 5967
What happens next
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NTSB go-team will document the scene, secure FDR/CVR, and initiate powerplant/airframe examinations.
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Interviews & records: Crewing, maintenance logs, dispatch, load/fuel, and weather/NOTAMs will be reviewed.
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Interim updates: Expect preliminary findings within days; probable cause typically follows months later.
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Airport ops: SDF will phase reopen as emergency and environmental assessments allow.
UPS statement (summary)
UPS confirmed the accident, noted three crew onboard, and said it had not confirmed injuries/casualties at the time of its statement. The carrier deferred investigative updates to the NTSB.
Note: Details above reflect what’s been reported by authorities, the operator, airport communications, and contemporaneous operational data at the time of writing. As the investigation proceeds, specific facts may be clarified or updated.
