Operations at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky have been temporarily halted after a UPS cargo plane crashed shortly after takeoff on Tuesday evening. The airport has announced an immediate suspension of all arrivals and departures as emergency crews respond to the incident.
In an official statement posted on X, the airport said:
“At this time, all arriving and departing flights at SDF are temporarily suspended and the airfield is closed. Passengers should closely monitor their flight status via their airline’s website or mobile app. All additional updates will be shared to this official account as available.”
The aircraft involved was a McDonnell Douglas MD-11F, operating as UPS Flight 5X2976 / UPS2976, and was en route to Honolulu when it crashed during takeoff. UPS confirmed there were three crew members on board, and authorities are working to verify the status of those onboard.
Local emergency teams and fire units remain at the scene, where fires have been reported following the crash. Officials have not yet confirmed the cause of the accident, and investigations are expected to be led by federal aviation authorities.
Passengers and airlines have been advised to monitor updates as the airfield remains closed until clearance is provided by emergency and aviation authorities.
More details are awaited and will be updated as confirmed information becomes available.
