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U.S. Federal investigators have recovered the “black box” recorders from a UPS cargo plane that crashed in flames during take-off from Louisville International Airport, killing at least 12 people, officials confirmed on Wednesday.
Reuters cited Todd Inman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) saying on Thursday, a large plume of fire erupted around the plane’s left wing and that one of its three engines detached as the MD-11 freighter accelerated down the runway.
The 34-year-old aircraft, bound for Honolulu with three crew members aboard, crashed just after clearing a fence at the end of the runway, striking multiple structures in the surrounding industrial area.
“The flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder were built to withstand crash impacts and intense heat from fires, and they appeared to be intact when located amid the debris,” Inman told reporters. “We feel comfortable that once we get these to our lab in Washington, D.C., we will be able to get a good readout of the applicable data, which will really help us understand what happened.”
Authorities confirmed that nine people on the ground died in addition to the three crew members. Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said on social media platform X: “I’m deeply saddened to share that the death toll has risen to 12, with several individuals still unaccounted for.” At least 11 people injured on the ground were hospitalised, some with serious injuries.
Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency to expedite disaster response, while approximately 200 firefighters and emergency personnel battled the blaze, which spread through about half a mile (800 metres) of the industrial corridor, igniting a petroleum recycling facility and other structures. Beshear noted that a nearby convention centre, restaurant, and Ford plant were spared.
The international airport reopened early on Wednesday, but the runway where the crash occurred is expected to remain closed for 10 days. UPS operations were also disrupted, with package-sorting shifts cancelled at its Worldport hub.
Inman said there was no apparent connection between the crash and the ongoing 36-day U.S. government shutdown affecting air traffic control, and that the airport tower was operating with a full complement of personnel.
The NTSB investigation will examine the detached engine, which was seen ignited on video. Aviation expert Anthony Brickhouse noted: “It is designed to fly if you lose one engine, but we need to see the effect of losing that engine on the rest of the aircraft.”
The plane was fully fuelled for its 8½-hour flight to Honolulu.
This marks the first UPS cargo plane crash since August 2013. Boeing and GE Aerospace have pledged support for the ongoing investigation. - November 6, 2025