Lead: Thirteen people died after a UPS McDonnell Douglas MD-11 cargo jet lost an engine and erupted in flames shortly after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on 4 November 2025. Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg confirmed the new death toll and UPS released the names of three crew members aboard. Federal investigators recovered the cockpit voice and flight data recorders and say the left wing caught fire before an engine separated. The National Transportation Safety Board has opened a probe focused on recent maintenance, including work while the aircraft was in San Antonio.
Key takeaways
- Death toll: 13 confirmed fatalities linked to UPS Flight 2976 after the MD-11 crashed and exploded after takeoff from Louisville.
- Crew identified: UPS named Captain Richard Wartenberg, First Officer Lee Truitt, and International Relief Officer Captain Dana Diamond among those on board.
- Flight data: Final recorder readings indicated about 475 ft altitude and roughly 210 mph before impact, according to the NTSB.
- Maintenance focus: The aircraft was in San Antonio from 3 September to 18 October; FAA records from 18 September noted a crack in a structural piece inside the center wing fuel tank.
- Evidence recovered: Investigators located an engine on the airfield and recovered intact cockpit voice and data recorders amid debris.
- Operations impact: UPS Worldport resumed night-sort operations Wednesday night; Louisville’s three runways have reopened and the hub continues to process flights.
- Hub scale: UPS’s Louisville facility employs more than 20,000 people, handles about 300 flights daily and sorts over 400,000 packages per hour.
Background
The UPS Louisville hub, known as Worldport, is the company’s largest package handling center and a critical node in its global logistics network. With more than 20,000 local employees, the hub supports roughly 300 flights daily and high-throughput sorting operations that process hundreds of thousands of parcels each hour. The MD-11 is a three-engine freighter type in long-term use by cargo carriers; its maintenance and aging-aircraft issues have drawn scrutiny in prior incidents. Federal aviation oversight and the NTSB routinely investigate serious accidents to determine causal and contributory factors, including maintenance records, structural integrity and human factors.
In recent weeks the specific MD-11 involved was reported on the ground in San Antonio from 3 September to 18 October, a period during which work was done at a repair facility. FAA documentation dated 18 September notes a crack on a structural element inside the center wing fuel tank that required repair, a detail now part of the NTSB inquiry. Local labor groups and the Teamsters, which represent many Worldport workers, have been active in the response and convened a vigil on 6 November as the investigation continued.
Main event
Shortly after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on 4 November, the MD-11 experienced a left-wing fire and lost an engine, then descended into the airfield and burst into a fireball. Federal investigators said the engine was found separated on the airfield; debris recovery teams located the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder among wreckage. The recorders—built to endure impacts and intense heat—appeared intact and were taken into evidence for data extraction.
Mayor Craig Greenberg announced a 13th fatality on social media while attending a Teamsters vigil, and UPS later released the names of three crew members. Local accounts describe a sudden, catastrophic event that allowed no opportunity for on-board evacuation; emergency responders faced intense flames and fragmented wreckage. Airport operations were temporarily disrupted, but all three runways were reopened and UPS resumed night-sort operations within days.
Investigators with the NTSB and other federal agencies are examining the aircraft’s maintenance history, including work performed while the plane was in San Antonio. NTSB member Todd Inman said the agency will review every piece of maintenance from that period up to the flight date. ST Engineering, which says it performs MD-11 airframe maintenance and operates a San Antonio repair facility, has acknowledged cooperation when contacted by authorities but declined further comment.
Analysis & implications
The immediate priority for investigators is to reconstruct the sequence that led to the wing fire, engine separation and rapid loss of controlled flight. The recovery of both flight recorders is a significant evidentiary advantage; data and voice recordings can clarify system indications, crew actions and anomalous warnings in the final minutes. If maintenance or a structural defect is implicated, regulators could face pressure to review broader MD-11 fleet work and oversight procedures, particularly for aging freighters that continue heavy rotational use.
Operationally, the crash highlights the systemic risks at high-volume air cargo hubs: rapid turnaround schedules, concentrated flight hours and reliance on legacy aircraft can compound consequences when an incident occurs. For UPS, the human toll is immediate and profound, but the company also confronts potential operational, legal and reputational fallout if maintenance or procedural lapses emerge from the probe. The hub’s scale—300 daily flights and hundreds of thousands of packages sorted hourly—means even short disruptions have ripple effects through supply chains.
On the regulatory front, investigators will weigh mechanical evidence against maintenance records and organizational factors such as contractor oversight, parts traceability and quality assurance. Any indication that previously identified structural cracks or repairs were inadequate could prompt Airworthiness Directives, fleet inspections or targeted audits. Internationally, other cargo carriers and repair stations will watch the NTSB’s findings for lessons that could affect maintenance practices worldwide.
Comparison & data
| Metric | Value / Detail |
|---|---|
| Confirmed fatalities | 13 |
| Aircraft type | McDonnell Douglas MD-11 freighter |
| Last known San Antonio ground time | 3 Sep – 18 Oct 2025 (reported) |
| Final recorded altitude & speed | 475 ft, ~210 mph (NTSB) |
| Worldport operations | >20,000 employees, ~300 flights/day, >400,000 packages/hr |
The table compiles key figures cited by investigators, regulators and UPS. These data points provide anchors for the NTSB’s causal timeline and for assessing operational impacts at the Louisville hub.
Reactions & quotes
“On my way to the Teamsters’ vigil, I learned of a 13th person that died as a result of the UPS flight 2976 plane crash. My heart is with the families, friends and colleagues of all who were lost in this week’s tragedy.”
Craig Greenberg, Mayor of Louisville
Mayor Greenberg made the comment while attending a local vigil, emphasizing community solidarity and the sudden nature of the loss.
“Our hearts go out to every UPSer who has been impacted and all in our Louisville community—supporting you and ensuring you receive the care and resources you need is our priority.”
UPS spokesperson (company statement)
UPS’s corporate statement named the three crew members and framed the company response around employee support and community assistance as operations resumed.
“We will look at every piece of maintenance that was done, even from the San Antonio time, all the way to the date of the flight.”
Todd Inman, NTSB member
Inman’s briefing signaled the agency’s broad maintenance review and intent to trace work performed months before the accident.
Unconfirmed
- Whether investigators have located every victim remains unclear; local officials said they hope all victims are accounted for but could not confirm completion.
- No final probable cause has been released; any link between the reported September crack and the crash is still under formal investigation.
- Details of specific maintenance actions performed in San Antonio, including time stamps and work scope, have not been publicly disclosed pending records review.
Bottom line
The crash of UPS Flight 2976 that killed 13 people is a major aviation tragedy with immediate human, operational and investigative consequences. The recovery of flight recorders and the engine, along with FAA maintenance entries and the aircraft’s San Antonio work history, give investigators concrete leads but not yet a conclusive cause. Families, coworkers and the Louisville community face grief and uncertainty while federal authorities pursue a methodical reconstruction of events.
In the coming weeks the NTSB’s data readouts and maintenance audits will be decisive: they will determine whether the incident stems from a mechanical failure, maintenance lapse, procedural issue, or a combination of factors. Given the hub’s central role in UPS’s network, the findings may prompt industrywide reviews of aging freighter maintenance practices and supervisory standards.
Sources
- The Guardian (news report)
- National Transportation Safety Board (official agency)
- Reuters (news report on aircraft ground time in San Antonio)
- UPS corporate statement / newsroom (company)
- Federal Aviation Administration (regulatory records)