Home / Disasters and Accidents / Fiery Plane Crash Shakes Louisville, Authorities Investigate
Fiery Plane Crash Shakes Louisville, Authorities Investigate
4 Nov
Summary
- UPS cargo flight bound for Honolulu crashed near Louisville airport
- Thick smoke and flames seen after takeoff, massive emergency response
- Investigators from FAA and NTSB working to determine cause of crash

On Tuesday, November 4th, 2025, a UPS cargo flight crashed near the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, sparking a major emergency response. The plane, a 34-year-old McDonnell Douglas MD-11 aircraft, was bound for Honolulu when it went down shortly after takeoff around 5:15 pm local time.
Eyewitness videos circulating online showed flames erupting from the aircraft as it plummeted to the ground. Emergency crews rushed to the scene, responding to multiple calls of an explosion near Fern Valley Road and Grade Lane, close to the airport's perimeter.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash. Officials have not yet confirmed the number of people on board or the extent of any injuries. A shelter-in-place order was issued for residents within a five-mile radius of the airport, which has since been extended.
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This tragic incident has shaken the Louisville community and left authorities searching for answers. The investigation into the UPS cargo flight crash is ongoing, as the aviation agencies work to determine what led to this devastating event.




