At least 7 dead after Hawaii-bound plane plummets after takeoff, crashes near Kentucky airport

At least seven people are dead and 11 injured after a cargo plane crashed shortly after taking off in Kentucky on Nov. 4, American media reported.

The plane had been bound for Hawaii.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear confirmed the casualties on X, warning that the death toll could rise.

The news out of Louisville is tough tonight as the death toll has now reached at least 7, with that number expected to rise. First responders are onsite and working hard to extinguish the fire and continue the investigation. 1/3

— Governor Andy Beshear (@GovAndyBeshear) November 5, 2025

“Please, pray for the families affected,” he said. “We are hurting right now after a heartbreaking day.”

The airport has since closed and residents of the area ordered to take shelter.

Plane crash details

The aircraft, identified as UPS Flight 2976, crashed at around 5:15 pm (Louisville time).

It climbed to about 53 metres before plummeting back down and erupting into flames.

Beshear’s office said that the plane carried more than 144,000 litres of fuel, resulting in an “enormous fireball” visible across the city that spread to nearby facilities, including a large recycling centre.

Footage broadcast by American news and on social media showed black smoke billowing skyward and burning wreckage.

The smoke could be seen even from a distance away.

UPS said in a statement that three crew members were on board, but they have not yet confirmed any injuries or casualties.

Two businesses, a waste company and an auto parts store, were struck directly by the aircraft, officials said, as reported by the New York Times.

Eyewitness accounts

Witnesses described scenes of chaos and disbelief.

Joey Garber, chief operating officer of the auto parts store, said the building shook and the power went out moments before explosions rocked the site.

“We heard a bunch of explosions,” he told the New York Times. “A bunch of people were running out that were inside those buildings."

Bethany Adams, who was driving to her Pilates class after work, said she initially mistook the dark cloud for a storm front.

“It looked like it could spout several tornadoes,” she said.

Another resident, Donald Anderson, said he was searching for his girlfriend, who had gone to a nearby recycling centre shortly before the crash and had not been heard from since.

Others saw debris falling out of the sky and expressed shock at how quickly the black cloud grew.

Response to the crash

The airport released a statement on X saying that it had temporarily suspended all flights following the crash.

UPS later confirmed it was temporarily halting package sorting operations at its Worldport hub as well, one of the largest freight facilities in the world.

"This is a UPS town," said Betsy Ruhe, a city councilwoman whose district was near the crash site, according to CBS News.

"We all know somebody who works at UPS, and they're all texting their friends, their family, trying to make sure everyone is safe. Sadly, some of those texts are probably going to go unanswered."

Top images via SwiftPilot420/X, 606stormchasing/Facebook