What we know about deadly Kentucky cargo plane crash

November 5, 2025

A UPS cargo plane crashed during takeoff at Louisville International Airport in Kentucky on Tuesday evening, killing at least seven people and injuring eleven others. The MD-11F aircraft skidded off the runway around 5:15 p. m.

Who is affected

Seven confirmed dead (potentially including three crew members aboard the plane)
Eleven injured people being treated in hospital
Two workers from Grade A Auto Parts unaccounted for
Unknown number of customers at the auto parts business
Employees at Kentucky Petroleum Recycling (struck "pretty directly")
Residents within the shelter-in-place zone around the airport
UPS (the delivery company operating the flight)

What action is being taken

Officials are conducting searches for people potentially trapped in nearby buildings
Fire crews are working to contain the blaze at the crash site
A preliminary investigation into the crash cause is under way
A shelter-in-place order is being enforced (reduced from five-mile to one-mile radius)
All airport operations have been halted
Injured victims are being treated in hospital

Why it matters

This is a significant aviation disaster involving a major cargo carrier that has resulted in multiple confirmed deaths and injuries to people both on the aircraft and on the ground. The crash poses serious ongoing safety risks to the surrounding community due to the massive fuel spill (38,000 gallons), potential for additional explosions, and air pollution concerns in a densely populated area near Kentucky's largest city. The incident also raises questions about aviation safety for the MD-11F aircraft model and will likely trigger comprehensive investigations into cargo plane operations and airport safety protocols.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC