LOUISVILLE, Ky. — At least seven people were killed after a United Parcel Service cargo plane was involved in a “catastrophic crash” near Louisville’s Muhammad Ali International Airport on Tuesday, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said.

The death toll is likely to grow, Beshear said late Tuesday. He added that first responders were on-site and “working hard to extinguish the fire and continue the investigation.”

“Please, pray for the families affected, Louisville and all of Kentucky. We are hurting right now after a heartbreaking day,” the governor said in a statement on social media.

Earlier, Jonathan Biven, a public safety officer for the Louisville airport, reported that 11 people were injured and transported to local hospitals at this time. Beshear previously said some of the victims had sustained serious injuries.

BREAKING: A UPS aircraft crashed after departing from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky, federal authorities said Tuesday. https://t.co/xEijOrNNOv pic.twitter.com/U3l9rr6Gk6

— ABC News (@ABC) November 4, 2025

Flight 2976 crashed at around 5:15 p.m. local time as it was departing for Honolulu from Louisville’s Muhammad Ali International Airport, the Federal Aviation Administration said. Three crew members were onboard the plane at the time of the incident, UPS and officials confirmed.

According to Biven, the plane went down about 3 miles south of the airfield. Beshear said the status of the flight crew is currently unclear.

“Watching that video, I think we’re all very, very worried about them,” Beshear said. Video footage of the crash appeared to show the plane taking off with fire on one wing, and a huge fireball erupted as it hit the ground.

A radar loop at the time #UPS2976 crashed in Kentucky depicts the resulting explosion and smoke plume, which towered to more than 3,000 feet. pic.twitter.com/TIsLSycLZi

— MyRadar Weather (@MyRadarWX) November 5, 2025

Several buildings in an industrial area beyond the runway were on fire after the crash, with thick black smoke rising into the sky. Beshear confirmed that there was “no specifically hazardous cargo” aboard the plane but warned that the crash impact could result in environmental issues.

The crash and fire prompted a massive emergency response from state and local agencies, including multiple fire departments and law enforcement agencies. The Louisville Metro Police Department warned on social media that there was an active scene near the airport with fire and debris, and urged people to avoid the area.

“This will be an ongoing active scene for the next several days. We don’t know how long it’s going to take to render that scene safe,” said Louisville Police Chief Paul Humphrey.

Police and fire crews are responding to a plane crash near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport that sent black smoke and flames shooting into the sky. pic.twitter.com/BYINil9mC7

— CBS 21 News (@CBS21NEWS) November 5, 2025

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the incident. The FAA said the NTSB will lead the investigation.

Louisville airfield temporarily closed, departing flights canceled

The security line at the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport was empty following the crash, according to the Courier Journal. The airport is also known by its former names as Standiford Field and Louisville International Airport.

“Aircraft incident confirmed at SDF,” the airport posted on its X account. “At this time, the airfield is closed.”

Biven confirmed Tuesday night that runway 1129 was open and all departing flights were canceled for the night

“We’re asking anyone who is traveling out of SDF airport tonight and tomorrow, they should contact their airline for flight status,” Biven said.

Local hospitals receive 10 patients after crash

UofL Health, an academic health system based in Louisville, told the Courier Journal, part of the USA Today Network, that it received 10 patients related to the plane incident.

Two people were at the UofL Hospital Burn Center in critical condition, and two others were being treated with non-life-threatening injuries. Six others were being treated with non-life-threatening injuries at Mary & Elizabeth Hospital, South Hospital and Jewish Hospital.

At least 2 businesses were directly affected by the crash

Beshear said authorities believe the main area hit by the crash included two businesses: Kentucky Petroleum Recycling and Grade A Auto Parts. “We know there were more businesses impacted,” the governor added.

Authorities were still searching for more information from Kentucky Petroleum Recycling, but Beshear said the business was “hit pretty directly.” As for Grade A Auto Parts, Beshear said the business accounted for all of its employees except for two people.

The governor noted that Grade A Auto Parts did not know how many other people, including customers, could have been at the business at the time of the crash.

“Because of the nature of these facilities, it may be some time before we can account for everyone or know that no one else was on the grounds,” Beshear said.

Shelter-in-place order issued in areas north of the airport

Following the crash, a shelter-in-place order was issued stretching from the area around the airport northward to the Ohio River, including Old Louisville, South Louisville, and downtown Louisville.

Areas south of the Outer Loop were cleared from the order at around 7:15 p.m. By 9 p.m., the order was reduced to a one-mile radius of the Louisville airport.

Louisville’s Emergency Management Agency said crews were monitoring the air quality. The public was urged to avoid the area due to the smoke.

Local health authorities advised people with homes or businesses in the shelter-in-place area to “please turn off any air intake systems as soon as possible.”

UPS Worldport halts operations after crash

UPS said in a statement that it was halting operations Tuesday night at Worldport. The Next Day Air sort was also canceled, and employees were told not to report to work, according to the company.

“We are terribly saddened by the accident tonight in Louisville,” the company said. “Our heartfelt thoughts are with everyone involved. UPS is committed to the safety of our employees, our customers, and the communities we serve. This is particularly true in Louisville, home to our airline and thousands of UPSers.”

UPS said it was working with the NTSB and was in close contact with the FAA. “We will work tirelessly with state and local authorities on response efforts,” according to the statement.

Kentucky’s largest public school system cancels classes

Kentucky’s largest school system canceled classes on Wednesday in response to the crash and fire. Jefferson County Public Schools, which serves roughly 93,000 students and has more than 17,000 employees, said students are not expected to do instructional work remotely, and employees are not expected to report to work.

“Due to the necessary shelter-in-place order issued by the city following this evening’s tragic plane crash, all JCPS schools will be closed … Nov. 5,” JCPS spokeswoman Carolyn Callahan said in a statement. “This will operate like a snow day, with no online instruction.”

All extracurricular activities are also canceled, Callahan said, and district officials will check the air and water quality of all schools near the crash site.

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