Dramatic videos show the burning UPS cargo plane crash in a massive fireball

Multiple Videos Capture Fatal UPS Plane Crash Near Louisville Airport, Killing At Least 12

Videos from various sources have documented the devastating final moments of a UPS cargo plane that caught fire and crashed Tuesday just outside Louisville’s Muhammad Ali International Airport, resulting in at least 12 fatalities and leaving a wide path of destruction on the ground.

The recordings, captured by mobile phones, vehicle dashcams, and security cameras, have provided investigators and the public with multiple perspectives of the disaster. According to Todd Inman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which is leading the investigation, the plane had been cleared for takeoff from UPS Worldport, the company’s global aviation hub, when a catastrophic fire developed in the left wing and an engine detached from the aircraft.

One particularly dramatic dashcam video shows flames and smoke trailing from the wing as the aircraft barely clears a road before clipping a building and disappearing behind an eruption of black smoke. Another recording from a business security camera captures the deafening sound of impact followed by a massive wall of fire and smoke. Seconds later, a secondary explosion can be seen rippling through the wreckage as emergency sirens begin wailing in the background.

“We’re just all heartbroken,” said Robert Travis, President of the Independent Pilots Association, which represents 3,500 UPS pilots. “This is a tragedy that is even highlighted further by the video that’s out there circulating around the world due to the catastrophic, violent nature of the accident itself.”

Louisville fire officials reported that the resulting blaze stretched nearly a city block and destroyed much of the plane’s fuselage. The intense fire has complicated recovery efforts, with authorities indicating that no survivors are expected to be found at the crash site.

Additional footage shows the UPS aircraft lifting off the runway already engulfed in flames before disappearing seconds later in a massive orange fireball. From nearby streets, witnesses recorded the explosion and thick black smoke towering over buildings as emergency vehicles rushed to the scene.

The crash occurred in an industrial area dotted with scrap yards and UPS facilities near the airport. The proximity to UPS Worldport is particularly significant, as this facility serves as the centerpiece of the company’s global logistics network, processing millions of packages daily and employing thousands of workers in the Louisville area.

The disaster represents one of the most serious aviation accidents involving a cargo carrier in recent years and will likely prompt a comprehensive review of aircraft maintenance procedures and emergency protocols. UPS maintains one of the largest corporate air fleets in the world, with operations spanning the globe.

For the Louisville community, the crash marks a tragic event that will have lasting impacts, particularly among the tight-knit aviation community associated with both the airport and UPS operations. Recovery efforts and the investigation are expected to continue for days as authorities work to identify victims and determine the precise cause of the catastrophic in-flight fire.

The NTSB investigation will examine all aspects of the flight, including maintenance records, pilot communications, and the aircraft’s operational history, in an effort to prevent similar accidents in the future. As is standard in major aviation accidents, a preliminary report is expected within weeks, though the complete investigation could take a year or more to conclude.