It began like any ordinary evening flight — until the sky lit up in horror.
Moments after taking off from Louisville’s Muhammad Ali International Airport, a UPS cargo plane bound for Hawaii crashed just three miles from the runway, erupting into a massive fireball that could be seen for miles.
Officials confirmed at least seven dead and eleven injured, though rescuers fear the number may rise. “The injuries are very significant,” one local responder said quietly. The crash struck two nearby businesses — a recycling center and an auto parts store — leaving workers trapped and families anxiously waiting for news.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear called the scene “devastating,” urging residents to stay clear as crews battled the inferno through the night. UPS released a statement saying they were “terribly saddened,” adding, “Our heartfelt thoughts are with everyone involved.”
Video footage showed the terrifying moment the plane hit the ground, bursting into flames as emergency lights raced toward it. The aircraft was carrying 38,000 gallons of fuel, turning the crash site into a wall of fire.
As dawn breaks over Louisville, investigators are piecing together what went wrong — and a community is left mourning those who never made it home.
