UPS MD-11F crashes after left-engine separation and wing fire during takeoff at Louisville

Surveillance footage shows a left-wing fire after an engine separated during the takeoff roll of UPS flight 5X2976, an MD-11F bound for Honolulu. The freighter crashed departing Louisville with three crew onboard; smoke and flames were visible from the left wing before liftoff and investigators have opened a probe.

Discovered 2025-11-05T01:57:06.041805-08:00 | 2025-11-05T01:57:06.041805-08:00

Briefing

What Hype is tracking

  • The accident involved UPS flight 5X2976, an MD-11F that crashed departing Louisville with three crew onboard; the FAA has confirmed the airframe and operations are under investigation. See the initial report of the MD-11F crash near Louisville: https://hype.aero/?story=2068b23a-6f71-405f-a1ea-95d8861af2c5

  • Surveillance and video evidence indicate an engine separated and smoke/flames were visible from the left wing during the takeoff roll, raising immediate questions about engine attachment and structural inspection regimes; this follows recent UPS engine-pod strike incidents that prompted inspections and groundings: https://hype.aero/?story=9c449d2b-e75f-4915-b8b8-9a1d8ff8ab67 and https://hype.aero/?story=5dc71bb9-dc49-4b4e-914b-28a7e5fd24ba

Reported By

Associated Press flight.com.gr FlightGlobal NBC News GlobalAir.com avgeekery.com
Sources Tracked
49
First Seen
2025-11-05T01:57:06.041805-08:00
Latest Update
2025-11-09T20:15:44.882489-08:00
Coverage
Aviation

Sources

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