The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported on Wednesday that during takeoff, the left engine of a UPS cargo plane involved in a dramatic crash at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky detached.
The incident involved UPS Flight 2976, which had three crew members aboard and was carrying over 200,000 pounds of fuel. The aircraft crashed into the Kentucky Petroleum Recycling building shortly after taking off from the airport around 5:15 p.m. ET on Tuesday, according to Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear.
Tragically, at least 11 people lost their lives, including all three crew members and a young child. Additionally, 11 individuals on the ground sustained injuries, Governor Beshear confirmed.
While the exact cause of the crash remains undetermined, NTSB officials revealed that the left engine had separated from the aircraft and was located on the airfield.
Surveillance footage captured by a local business showed the moment the UPS wide-body cargo plane crashed on November 4, 2025.
Initial findings suggest that the flight departed on schedule without any immediate maintenance conducted prior to takeoff. There are no existing airworthiness directives concerning the aircraft or its engines, authorities noted.
The NTSB confirmed the FBI is assisting with the investigation “under a longstanding Interagency agreement.”
It is unclear if criminal intent was suspected or what the plane was carrying at the time of the crash.
NTSB officials said shipments that travel through the Louisville UPS hub daily contain “life-saving drugs, postal products, food, supplements, you name it.”
A fireball erupts near airport property after a UPS plane crashed at Louisville International Airport Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. (Jon Cherry/AP Photo)
Investigators on Wednesday afternoon recovered the aircraft’s cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder commonly known as the “black box,” which the NTSB said was exposed to heat but appeared intact.
They will be analyzed at the NTSB’s lab in Washington, D.C.
Several specialized groups have been established by the NTSB, including an operations group to review the flight history and crew duties leading up to the crash; a structures group to document the wreckage, impact angles and aircraft trajectory before impact; a power plants group to examine the engines and related accessories; a systems group to investigate hydraulics, electrical, instruments and flight controls; and a maintenance group to review maintenance records and history of work performed on the aircraft.
Smoke rises from the site of a UPS cargo plane crash near the UPS Worldport at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Louisville, Ky., Nov. 4, 2025. (Leandro Lozada/AFP via Getty Images)
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records showed the plane was in service for nearly 35 years, according to a report from Reuters.
The agency said it is balancing investigative thoroughness with the need to reopen runways at the airport, which it said is critical for essential supply chain operations.
The Louisville airport is home to UPS Worldport, a global hub for the shipping company’s air cargo operations and its largest package-handling facility worldwide. UPS is the largest employer in Louisville, providing 26,000 jobs, according to Louisville Business First.
Fire and smoke mark where a UPS cargo plane crashed near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport Nov. 4, 2025. (Stephen Cohen/Getty Images)
Beshear declared a state of emergency Wednesday morning to assist in recovery efforts, noting he expects the number of fatalities to rise to 12 by Wednesday night.
“Let’s continue to pray for their families and loved ones during this heartbreaking time,” he wrote in an X post.
The NTSB will hold an organizational meeting to establish party status for various entities, including the aircraft manufacturer, operator, labor unions representing crew members and relevant government agencies. Once they join, they are prohibited from commenting publicly without NTSB consent.
Officials noted the investigation will not be affected by the ongoing federal government shutdown.
The FBI did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
