Louisville Plane Crash Tied to Detached Engine, NTSB Says
Preliminary NTSB Report Finds Engine Separation Caused UPS Plane Crash
A preliminary investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has determined that a detached engine caused the fire that led to the fatal crash of UPS flight 2976 shortly after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on November 4, 2025. The crash occurred in Louisville, Kentucky and resulted in 14 fatalities.
Engine Separation Identified as Key Failure
According to the NTSB, surveillance footage showed the aircraft’s left engine separating from the wing as the plane began its takeoff roll. Investigators found that the engine broke away when the aircraft lifted off the ground. The detached engine, already on fire, fell near the runway and the flames spread to the plane’s wing.
The NTSB reported that the aircraft never climbed higher than 30 feet and remained airborne for less than two minutes. Before crashing, one of the landing gears struck the top of a UPS building located near the airport.
Casualties and Immediate Impact
The crash killed all three crew members on board. Eleven people on the ground also died, including a child. Nearly two dozen others sustained injuries. The aircraft collided with multiple buildings, including a petroleum recycling facility, which triggered an additional explosion.
Maintenance and Inspection Findings
NTSB analysis of the wreckage revealed that the pylon connecting the engine to the wing had fractured during takeoff. Several cracks were identified in the pylon’s connecting components. Records show the pylon had last undergone a visual inspection in October 2021. Its next scheduled inspection was not due until 2027, and a more detailed examination was not required for roughly 7,000 additional flights.
Service records indicate that the pylon was serviced on October 28, 2025. The NTSB noted that the crew members operating the flight had thousands of hours of experience on the same aircraft model.
Additional Incident Near Louisville Airport
On a separate Tuesday afternoon near Louisville International Airport, a different plane crash resulted in fire, debris, reported injuries, and more than 20 emergency calls. A shelter-in-place order was issued within a five-mile radius due to rising smoke.