Tragic Crash of UPS Cargo Plane Claims 14 Lives

Sun Nov 30 2025 22:17:27 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A UPS cargo plane crashed shortly after takeoff from the company's facility in Louisville, Kentucky, resulting in the deaths of 14 individuals, including the flight crew. Investigators examine the circumstances surrounding the incident, as lawsuits begin to emerge.

On Tuesday, a UPS cargo plane tragically crashed shortly after takeoff at the UPS Worldport hub in Louisville, Kentucky, resulting in the loss of 14 lives, including three pilots. Eyewitness accounts describe alarming scenes as the aircraft, missing an engine and with a burning wing, failed to gain altitude and collided with the ground. Investigators are probing the cause of a distress signal heard in the cockpit, while lawsuits have already been filed against UPS for negligence.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A UPS cargo plane was nearly airborne when a bell sounded in the cockpit. For the next 25 seconds, the bell rang and the pilots tried to control the aircraft as it barely lifted off the runway, its left wing ablaze and missing an engine, and then plowed into the ground in a spectacular fireball, the chief investigator said Friday.

The crash Tuesday at UPS Worldport, the company’s global aviation hub in Louisville, Kentucky, killed 14 people, including three pilots on the MD-11 that was headed for Honolulu.

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) member Todd Inman stated that the cockpit voice recorder captured the bell that sounded about 37 seconds after the crew called for takeoff thrust, though investigators are still determining the cause.

Jeff Guzzetti, a former NTSB investigator, noted that the bell likely indicated an engine fire. He added that it appeared the crew was past their decision speed to safely abort takeoff when the incident occurred, warranting a thorough investigation into their options.

Investigators Look to Video for Clues

Dramatic video captured the aircraft crashing and erupting in flames, providing various angles for investigators. Preliminary data indicate the plane only reached an altitude of about 100 feet and crashed just outside the airport at a speed of 210 mph (340 kph).

Initial findings revealed that the engine and pieces of fan blades were recovered from the crash site, with UPS confirming that there had been no maintenance work performed prior to the flight. Investigators will analyze video surveillance for any signs of prior issues.

Lawsuit Alleges Negligence by UPS and Others

A federal lawsuit has already been filed against UPS by a victim of the crash who was treated after inhaling smoke, alongside claims against the manufacturer of the plane and engine for negligence.