Louisville UPS plane crash UPDATES as at least four dead amid fireball horror

UPS Flight 2976, which was bound for Hawaii, crashed at Louisville International Airport in Kentucky - a shelter-in-place order has been issued as police warned people to "stay away"

At least four people have died after a large cargo plane crashed and exploded during takeoff.

Several others are severely injured following the UPS Flight 2976 disaster, which saw the freight plane erupt into a fireball near Louisville International Airport in Kentucky.

It is thought the four known fatalities were pilot and crew of the plane, which was due for Hawaii last night. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said: "We’re asking all Kentuckians to pray for those that have been impacted... It is still a very dangerous situation with different flammables or potentially explosive materials."

For updates on the Louisville UPS plane crash, follow our live blog below...

03:54Bradley Jolly

UPS will suspend overnight package sorting operations

UPS announced it will suspend overnight package sorting operations at its Worldport facility in Louisville following the crash.

“We are deeply saddened by the accident tonight in Louisville,” the company said in a statement, noting that the Kentucky city is home to its airline operations and “thousands of UPSers.”

UPS added that it is cooperating with the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation and remains in close contact with the Federal Aviation Administration.

02:35KEY EVENT

Death toll rises to four

It has now been confirmed four people have died in the plane crash.

Jonathan Bevin, a public information officer at Louisville International Airport, gave the update a few moments ago. The 11 people injured are now at hospital, he added.

And one runway at the airport has reopened but departing flights are cancelled for now.

02:22Bradley Jolly

Plane crashed into two businesses

The plane struck two local businesses - Kentucky Petroleum Recycling and Grade A Autoparts, which Governor Andy Beshear said accounted for all of its employees except for two.

There were three crew members onboard the flight at the time, UPS officials have confirmed. But it is unclear whether the fatalities were members of the crew.

"From the videos I've seen, I'm very concerned for them, but I'm still praying," Gov Beshear said at a news conference Tuesday night.

Kentucky Petroleum Recycling appeared to be “hit pretty directly,” Gov Beshear added.

01:58Bradley Jolly

Death toll likely to increase

The UPS cargo plane crashed and exploded while taking off from the company’s global aviation hub in Louisville, Kentucky.

Three people have been killed — numbers are likely to grow though.

The plane crashed about 5:15 p.m. as it was departing for Honolulu from UPS Worldport at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport.

Gov Andy Beshear said: "Right now we believe we have at least three fatalities, though I believe that number is going to get larger. We have at least 11 injuries, some of them very significant. Anybody who has seen the images, the video, knows how violent this crash is."

01:40Bradley Jolly

Boeing says it is supporting its customer

Airplane manufacturer Boeing says it is "following the news out of Louisville" and is "ready to support our customer".

"Our concern is for the safety and well-being of all those affected," it says in a statement on its website, adding that it has offered technical assistance to the National Transportation Safety Board, which will lead the investigation into the crash.

01:13Bradley Jolly

More than 140,000 litres of fuel was on plane

More than 140,000 litres (38,000 gallons) of fuel was on the plane, authorities said.

The plane had just started its flight – and crashed within minutes.

The resulting fire is still burning, with the fire department working to contain it and the public warned not to go near the crash site.

01:05KEY EVENT

'Stay away from the crash site'

Louisville residents must continue to shelter, authorities have warned.

The crash site includes a petroleum recycling business, a concern as petroleum is a highly flammable liquid. It also included an auto-parts business, authorities told reporters.

"There may be people that still need to be rescued. Do not be the reason that the first responders cannot get to them," Gov Bashear says.

"There are still dangerous things that are flammable, that are potentially explosive."

00:51KEY EVENT

At least three people confirmed dead after UPS Flight 2976 crash

Authorities are briefing the press and public on the crash now.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear says that he believes there are at least three fatalities in the plane crash. A further 11 people have been injured, he says, adding that some of the injuries are "very significant".

He says: "I think that that number will get larger".

Later, Beshear says: "We do not at the moment have the status of the crew, watching that video. I think we're all very, very worried about them."

00:28Bradley Jolly

'We know that there are injuries. We don’t know yet about fatalities'

Video shows flames on the plane's left wing and a trail of smoke. The plane then lifts slightly off the ground before crashing and exploding in a huge fireball. Video also reveals portions of a building’s shredded roof next to the end of the runway.

"We know that there are injuries. We don’t know yet about fatalities, but we’re asking all Kentuckians to pray for those that have been impacted," Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said.

Mayor Craig Greenberg told WLKY-TV there could be about 280,000 gallons (1,059 kiloliters) of fuel on the plane, an "extreme reason for concern in so many different ways."

UPS’s largest package handling facility is in Louisville. The hub employs thousands of workers, has 300 daily flights and sorts more than 400,000 packages an hour.

A shelter-in-place order was extended to all areas north of the airport to the Ohio River. The Louisville airport is only a 10-minute drive from the city’s downtown, which sits on the river bordering the Indiana state line. There are residential areas, a water park and museums in the area.

The McDonnell Douglas MD-11 airplane owned by UPS was manufactured in 1991.

00:20Bradley Jolly

UPS Flight 2976 - for Hawaii - crashed at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport

We know so far the cargo plane UPS Flight 2976 - which was transporting freight for Hawaii - crashed at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky.

The three crew on board are feared dead.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg says in a social media post that the plane crash is an "incredible tragedy that our community will never forget".

He adds: "We are so thankful for our brave first responders who have flooded the scene to help try and control the fire and provide support for any victims on the ground."

00:17Bradley Jolly

Plane was 34 years old and plans were afoot to stop using it

The aircraft that crashed was a MD-11F - and UPS planned to phase out its fleet of MD-11s over the next decade, it is reported.

The large freight plane was brought in during the 1990s to fill a growing need for long-haul cargo transport. The aircraft was originally manufactured by McDonnell Douglas, which later merged with Boeing in 1997.

MD-11s are just over 61 metres long and have a wingspan of 52 metres. For comparison, a Boeing 747 is roughly 76 metres long and has a wingspan of 68 metres

The crashed aircraft was 34 years old. It began service with Thai Airways in 1991 but was transferred to UPS in 2006.

00:08Bradley Jolly

Dramatic images continue to reach us this morning

23:53KEY EVENT

Structural collapse searches underway at buildings near the airport

Multiple heavy rescue companies are now responding to staging for structural collapse searches.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear asks residents to pray for the pilots, crew and others affected by the crash at Louisville airport.

In a post on X confirming the crash, he says: "Please pray for the pilots, crew and everyone affected. We will share more soon."

23:44KEY EVENT

Three crew on board UPS Flight 2976

There were three crew on board UPS Flight 2976, according to a statement from UPS.

The company adds that it has not yet confirmed any injuries or casualties.

And video has now emerged of firefighters tackling a large blaze and plumes of smoke billowing into the air near Louisville International Airport.

23:39KEY EVENT

Reports people are trapped in a building near the airport

The Mirror is working to verify reports 25 people are trapped in a building near the Louisville airport.

The Louisville Metro Police Department described the scene near the building and the airport as active with "fire and debris."

A shelter-in-place initially issued for a five-mile radius of the airport was extended for all areas north of the airport to the Ohio River, police said.

23:32Bradley Jolly

Injuries reported following crash near Louisville International Airport

A large UPS cargo plane crashed on takeoff from Louisville, Kentucky, igniting a huge fire on the ground, officials said.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the plane crashed at about 5:15pm (local time). It was taking off for Honolulu. The FAA said the plane was scheduled to fly to Honolulu after it took off from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport.

Police had responded to reports of a plane crash near Louisville International Airport. Injuries were reported, the Louisville Metro Police Department said in a social media post. Photos on social media showed a large plume of black smoke rising into the sky.

23:26Bradley Jolly

Federal Aviation Administration releases statement

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) says: "UPS Flight 2976 crashed around 5:15 p.m. local time on Tuesday, Nov. 4, after departing from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky.

"The McDonnell Douglas MD-11 was headed to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu. The FAA and NTSB will investigate. The NTSB will lead the investigation and will provide all updates. This information is preliminary and subject to change."

23:24KEY EVENT

Dramatic footage shows fireball following the impact

Dramatic footage online shows the fire engulf an area moments after impact.

The plane crashed shortly after takeoff, it is understood.

Authorities, including the Federal Aviation Administration, are investigating.

23:20Bradley Jolly

What has caused the UPS crash?

It is unclear at this stage what caused the crash.

Louisville serves as the UPS Worldport. UPS is the largest employer in the city, employing over 20,000 people in the greater Louisville metropolitan region, according to the company's website.

23:12KEY EVENT

UPS confirms one of its aircraft involved in incident

UPS says it has been notified of an incident involving one of its aircraft at Louisville.

It is not yet clear whether anybody has been killed, although police have reported injuries.

22:59KEY EVENT

People within a 5-mile radius told to stay indoors

A 'shelter-in-place' order has been issued for everyone within five miles of Louisville International Airport, starting just after 5:30 pm EST and lasting "until further notice". In the US, this order requires people to stay indoors due to an ongoing emergency.

22:52KEY EVENT

'Ash falling from the sky'

A reporter at Louisville airport has filmed ash 'falling from the sky'. It comes after police said they were attending a plane crash near the airport.

22:49Eliana Nunes

'Fire and debris' at scene

Louisville Metro Police have said there is an active scene with "fire and debris". Spokesperson Matt Sanders has told local outlet WDRB that the force received more than 20 calls.

22:47Eliana Nunes

Which plane has crashed?

A UPS MD-11 plane has crashed near the Louisville International Airport, according to reports.

22:41KEY EVENT

Louisville Metro Police Dept issues statement

"LMPD and multiple other agencies are responding to reports of a plane crash near Fern Valley and Grade Lane. Grade lane will be closed indefinitely between Stooges and Crittenden. Injuries reported."