Smoke rises from the wreckage of a UPS plane crash near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Louisville, Kentucky, on November 4.
Day 1: Investigators Recover Black Boxes After Deadly UPS Cargo Plane Crash in Louisville
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Federal investigators have begun piecing together what led to a deadly UPS cargo plane crash that tore through part of Louisville shortly after takeoff Tuesday morning, leaving behind a half-mile trail of debris and destruction.
Authorities have confirmed at least 12 fatalities, though officials warn the number could continue to rise as recovery teams work through the charred wreckage near Muhammad Ali International Airport.
A fiery crash and growing toll
The aircraft, a UPS freight plane, went down just minutes after departure, scattering debris across businesses and roadways in the surrounding area. Satellite imagery from Vantor shows a debris field stretching more than half a mile from the crash site.
By Wednesday evening, 12 bodies had been recovered, but none of the victims have yet been identified, Kentucky officials said. Coroners continue the painstaking task of identifying remains — a process complicated by the severe condition of some victims.
Governor Andy Beshear, who declared a state of emergency and mobilized the National Guard, said the identification process is underway.
“It’s really important to get that news, especially to the families,” Beshear said. “While they want to be 100% sure, being 98% sure is enough to start talking to these families and letting them process their grief.”
Investigation and recovery
An NTSB investigation team arrived on scene Wednesday and recovered the aircraft’s black boxes — the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder — which are expected to provide critical insight into the moments before the crash.
Investigators have urged the public to turn in any debris found within the half-mile impact zone to assist in the investigation.
Passenger flights at Louisville International Airport have since resumed, though operations remain backlogged from Tuesday’s shutdown. UPS cargo flights also restarted approximately 24 hours after the crash.
Aviation industry under pressure
The tragedy comes amid broader turbulence in the U.S. aviation sector. Just one day after the Louisville crash, the Department of Transportation warned that it may reduce air traffic by 10% at 40 major airports starting Friday if a government funding deal isn’t reached — citing safety risks tied to air traffic controller shortages.
As night falls on Louisville, investigators are only beginning to uncover what caused one of Kentucky’s deadliest aviation disasters in recent years — a crash that has shaken a city, a company, and families across the country waiting for answers.
