UPS MD-11 Crash Report Reveals Shocking Details ✈️

Link to Preliminary report: https://www.ntsb.gov/Documents/Prelimiary%20Report%20DCA26MA024.pdf

A UPS United Parcel Service McDonnell Douglas MD-11, registration N259UP performing flight 5X-2976 from Louisville,KY to Honolulu,HI (USA) with 3 crew, was accelerating for takeoff from Louisville's runway 17R at 17:13L (22:13Z) when the aircraft impacted ground and came to a rest at approximate position N38.146 W85.734 about 0.57nm past the runway end and about 0.09nm to the left of the extended runway centerline bursting into flames. All three on board perished, 10 fatalities on the ground are confirmed and 11 injuries on the ground reported, too.

The aircraft had already been handed off to departure frequency but did not report on departure frequency anymore.

According to ADS-B data the aircraft achieved 185 knots over ground near the aiming markers runway 35L still on the runway centerline but never became airborne.

According to pictorial evidence engine #1 (left hand engine, CF6) separated the airframe during rotation for takeoff, the departure of that engine may also have failed the center engine #2.

The FAA reported: "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."

Ground observers reported the aircraft had been delayed for about two hours for work on the left hand engine (engine #1), the engine #1 separated during the takeoff run, the center engine emitted streaks of flames, the aircraft impacted a UPS warehouse and ploughed through other facilities before coming to rest in a large plume of fire and smoke.

The local governor reported the plane hit two businesses near the airport, the three occupants of the aircraft died, 4 people on the ground are confirmed dead, the death toll could rise. At least 11 people are treated in hospitals for in part serious injuries, that number might rise further, too. The aircraft with 38000 gallons of fuel climbed to about 175 feet AGL before descending again.

UPS reported they are halting package sorting at Louisville.

The NTSB reported: "NTSB is launching a go-team to investigate Tuesday’s crash of a UPS MD-11 cargo aircraft, Flight 2976 near Louisville, Kentucky. NTSB Board Member Todd Inman will serve as the on-scene spokesperson. The investigative team is scheduled to arrive in Kentucky tomorrow. A media briefing will be held tomorrow, with the time and location to be announced."

On Nov 5th 2025 20:00Z the NTSB reported in a press conference, the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder have been identified, show some limited fire damage, the NTSB is hopeful to be able to read the recorders out but won't be able to tell before the recorders have been prepared for readout at the NTSB lab. After being cleared for takeoff a large plume of fire occurred at the left hand side, the aircraft gained enough height to clear the airport perimeter fence before impacting a building. The CCTV show the left hand engine separated from the aircraft during the takeoff run. The debris field is about half a mile long. The NTSB is also looking into maintenance of the aircraft. Another briefing will be held on Thursday, which will be the first full day on scene for the NTSB, which is anticipated to stay on scene for a week. End of Media briefing.

In their second media briefing on Nov 6th 2025 the NTSB released a photo of CVR and FDR (see below) and reported, that the FAA, United Parcel Service, ALPA, the mechanics for UPS, Boeing and GE engines are parties into the investigation. The NTSB currently consists of over 30 individuals not including the individuals in Washington. According to the ADS-B the aircraft was at 475 feet MSL at 183 knots over ground at 17:13:32L (22:13:32Z) - Editorial note: the threshold of runway 35L/runway end 17R is at 461 feet MSL. The NTSB performed a "FOD Walk" (check for foreign object debris) on both runways 17L and 17R. Multiple pieces of engine fan blades were found on runway 17R along with the main component of the #1 engine, all debris was transferred to a secure facility. The FDR download was successful and revealed 63 hours of flight data, a FDR group was formed at the headquarters in Washington. The CVR was also downloaded successfully, two hours of audio including the accident flight were recovered. Maintenance data have been collected from San Antonio,TX (USA), where the aircraft had undergone maintenance for several weeks. Immediately prior to the departure and crash of the aircraft the NTSB is not aware that any maintenance has been done to the aircraft or that the aircraft was delayed. End of media briefing.

On Nov 7th 2025 Louisville Mayor reported they are mourning the loss of 13 people (including the 3 crew on board of the aircraft), the death toll might still rise.