Timeline: Flight Data Depicts UPS Cargo Jet’s Final Minutes Before Fatal KY Crash
As of Wednesday morning, at least 12 people have died following the crash at Louisville’s airport. The UPS cargo plane crash in Louisville, which occurred late Tuesday afternoon, killed at least 12 individuals and injured several others.
This flight was a regularly scheduled service operated by the delivery and logistics company, flying to Honolulu three times a week, according to public aviation data.
Flight Details and Delays
The wide-body, tri-engine McDonnell Douglas MD-11F arrived from Baltimore on Tuesday morning and was scheduled to depart Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport at 3 p.m., according to Flightradar24.com.
The jet did not begin moving down the runway until about 5:08 p.m., based on real-time flight tracking data. The cause of the nearly two-hour delay remains unknown.
Final Moments of the Flight
Videos from the crash site show the plane speeding along the airport’s longest runway with its No. 1 left wing engine on fire.
Seconds after takeoff, climbing only 175 feet above ground, the Boeing-made jet veered toward an industrial park south of the airport, where it struck nearby buildings and exploded.
“The aircraft loaded with 38,000 gallons of jet fuel caused a blaze that first responders quickly worked to control.”
Rescue teams arrived promptly to manage the fire caused by the crash.
This report was initially published on November 5, 2025, at 1:14 PM.
Author’s Summary
The UPS cargo jet crashed shortly after takeoff from Louisville amid an unexplained delay, causing a deadly fire that claimed at least 12 lives and injured others.