LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The crew of a UPS cargo plane struggled to maintain control for approximately 25 seconds before the aircraft erupted into flames and crashed shortly after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, according to preliminary findings from federal investigators. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday evening, has now claimed 14 lives, marking a tragic escalation in what officials are describing as one of the deadliest aviation accidents in recent years involving a freight carrier.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released details from the cockpit voice recorder on Friday, shedding light on the harrowing final moments of UPS Flight 2976. The McDonnell Douglas MD-11 freighter, bound for Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, took off around 5:15 p.m. local time. NTSB official Todd Inman, speaking at a press briefing, explained that the takeoff roll proceeded without incident, with the crew completing their standard checklist and briefing.
“About 37 seconds after the crew called for takeoff thrust, a repeating bell was heard on the cockpit voice recorder,” Inman said. He noted that the bell continued until the recording ended 25 seconds later, coinciding with the presumed time of the crash. During that brief window, “the crew engaged in efforts to attempt to control the aircraft before the crash,” he added.
Inman cautioned against jumping to conclusions about the bell's significance but suggested it might relate to a fire alert, given video footage showing flames erupting from the plane. “The bell may have indicated that there was a fire, as was evident from footage of the incident, but I didn’t want to speculate too far,” he told reporters. Further insights are expected from the flight data recorder (FDR), which investigators are analyzing for more detailed data.
The NTSB plans to produce a written transcript of the cockpit audio, though Inman indicated it could take several months before it's released to the public. This timeline aligns with standard procedures in major crash investigations, where meticulous review ensures accuracy. In the meantime, physical evidence from the site is under scrutiny, including the left engine, which detached amid a “large plume of fire” from the wing, according to NTSB reports.
Inman provided specifics on the engine separation: “The bulk of the left engine pylon was still attached to the left engine when the engine separated from the wing.” Both the engine and pylon are now in a secure facility for examination, while additional engine fragments were found in the grass near the runway. Investigators scheduled another sweep of the area with metal detectors on Friday to recover any remaining pieces.
As search efforts continued through a half-mile stretch of charred debris, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg announced on Friday that another victim had been located at the crash site. This discovery raised the confirmed death toll to 14, including the three pilots believed to have perished on board. “We pray for each of the victims' families, and pray that no additional victims are lost as our first responders continue to search and seek answers that we all are looking for,” Greenberg said in a video statement.
Prior to this update, officials had reported the toll at 13, with nine individuals near the scene listed as missing as of Thursday. The crash's proximity to the airport and surrounding areas has complicated recovery operations, with crews navigating dense wreckage under challenging conditions. The incident has drawn comparisons to past cargo plane accidents, such as the 1997 crash of a Fine Air DC-8 in Miami, which killed five people and highlighted engine failure risks in older freighters like the MD-11.
UPS, one of the world's largest package delivery companies, operates a major hub at Louisville's airport, handling millions of shipments daily. The MD-11 involved in the crash is a wide-body jet commonly used for long-haul cargo flights, though the model has faced scrutiny in the past for structural issues. Aviation experts note that while the MD-11 has a solid safety record overall, incidents like this underscore the vulnerabilities of aging aircraft in high-demand operations.
“The FDR data and the examination by the groups on that will give us a lot more granularity and be able to help paint a better picture,” Inman said, emphasizing the ongoing nature of the probe.
Witnesses to the crash described a scene of chaos, with flames visible from miles away. Local residents reported hearing a loud explosion followed by the sight of the plane plummeting. One airport worker, speaking anonymously to reporters, said the fire appeared to originate from the left side, corroborating the NTSB's initial observations. Federal Aviation Administration records show the plane was last inspected routinely, but details on any prior mechanical issues remain undisclosed pending the full investigation.
The crash has prompted immediate responses from UPS and regulatory bodies. The company issued a statement expressing condolences and pledging full cooperation with the NTSB. “Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of those affected by this tragedy,” a UPS spokesperson said. Meanwhile, the airport resumed normal operations by Wednesday, though the affected runway section remains closed for debris removal.
Broader implications for the aviation industry are already emerging. Cargo flights, which often operate at night with minimal passengers, face unique safety challenges, including fatigue among crews and the pressures of tight schedules. The International Air Transport Association has long advocated for enhanced fire suppression systems on freighters, a topic likely to resurface in light of this event. Analysts predict potential regulatory changes, such as stricter engine maintenance protocols for MD-11 fleets.
Looking ahead, the NTSB's investigation could span 12 to 18 months, involving metallurgical tests, simulations, and interviews with UPS personnel. Inman stressed that while preliminary data points to an engine-related failure, no definitive cause has been determined. “We're committed to a thorough review to prevent future incidents,” he said. Families of the victims, meanwhile, have begun gathering in Louisville, supported by grief counselors provided by the city and UPS.
As the community mourns, questions linger about how such a catastrophe unfolded so quickly after takeoff. With the death toll now at 14 and searches ongoing, officials remain hopeful that no further victims will be found. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the risks inherent in air travel, even in the cargo sector, and underscores the need for unwavering vigilance in aviation safety.