The left engine of the UPS cargo plane involved in the fiery crash at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) in Kentucky Tuesday fell off during takeoff, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed Wednesday.
UPS Flight 2976 crashed with three crew members on board and more than 200,000 pounds of fuel into the Kentucky Petroleum Recycling building after departing from SDF at about 5:15 p.m. ET Tuesday, according to Gov. Andy Beshear.
At least 12 people are dead, including the three crew members onboard and a young child, and 11 others on the ground were injured, Beshear said.
Though the cause of the crash has not yet been released, NTSB officials said the left engine detached from the plane and was found on the airfield.
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CCTV footage from a Kentucky business showed the moment a UPS wide-body cargo plane went down Nov. 4, 2025. (Kentucky Truck Parts & Service)
Preliminary information indicates the flight was not delayed, and no immediate maintenance work was performed before takeoff, officials said. There are no known airworthiness directives tied to the aircraft or its engines.
The NTSB confirmed the FBI is assisting with the investigation “under a longstanding Interagency agreement.”
It is unclear if criminal intent was suspected or what the plane was carrying at the time of the crash.
NTSB officials said shipments that travel through the Louisville UPS hub daily contain “life-saving drugs, postal products, food, supplements, you name it.”
A fireball erupts near airport property after a UPS plane crashed at Louisville International Airport Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. (Jon Cherry/AP Photo)
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Investigators on Wednesday afternoon recovered the aircraft’s cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder commonly known as the “black box,” which the NTSB said was exposed to heat but appeared intact.
They will be analyzed at the NTSB’s lab in Washington, D.C.
Several specialized groups have been established by the NTSB, including an operations group to review the flight history and crew duties leading up to the crash; a structures group to document the wreckage, impact angles and aircraft trajectory before impact; a power plants group to examine the engines and related accessories; a systems group to investigate hydraulics, electrical, instruments and flight controls; and a maintenance group to review maintenance records and history of work performed on the aircraft.
Smoke rises from the site of a UPS cargo plane crash near the UPS Worldport at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Louisville, Ky., Nov. 4, 2025. (Leandro Lozada/AFP via Getty Images)
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Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records showed the plane was in service for nearly 35 years, according to a report from Reuters.
The agency said it is balancing investigative thoroughness with the need to reopen runways at the airport, which it said is critical for essential supply chain operations.
The Louisville airport is home to UPS Worldport, a global hub for the shipping company’s air cargo operations and its largest package-handling facility worldwide. UPS is the largest employer in Louisville, providing 26,000 jobs, according to Louisville Business First.
Fire and smoke mark where a UPS cargo plane crashed near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport Nov. 4, 2025. (Stephen Cohen/Getty Images)
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Beshear declared a state of emergency Wednesday morning to assist in recovery efforts.
“I’m deeply saddened to share that the death toll has risen to 12, with several individuals still unaccounted for,” Lousiville Mayor Craig Greenberg wrote in an X post Wednesday night. “No one should face tragedy alone. Please take a moment to hug your loved ones and check on your neighbors. We will continue providing resources and support to everyone affected by this heartbreaking event.”
The NTSB will hold an organizational meeting to establish party status for various entities, including the aircraft manufacturer, operator, labor unions representing crew members and relevant government agencies. Once they join, they are prohibited from commenting publicly without NTSB consent.
Officials noted the investigation will not be affected by the ongoing federal government shutdown.
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The FBI did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Fox News Digital’s Pilar Arias and Emma Bussey contributed to this report.
Alexandra Koch is a Fox News Digital journalist who covers breaking news, with a focus on high-impact events that shape national conversation.
She has covered major national crises, including the L.A. wildfires, Potomac and Hudson River aviation disasters, Boulder terror attack, and Texas Hill Country floods.
