Live Updates: Death Toll Climbs to 12 in UPS Plane Crash, Greenberg Reports

Emergency officials from multiple agencies are set to begin a lengthy investigation into a fiery UPS plane crash at the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on November 4 that left at least nine people dead. Several fire departments and emergency agencies from around the Louisville metro area responded to the crash at the airport around 5:15 p.m. A plume of smoke was visible for miles at the site of the crash, and shelter-in-place orders that at one point stretched across the Ohio River into Southern Indiana were put into place throughout the evening out of an abundance of caution as strong odors and fumes were reported in the area.

The order also forced Jefferson County Public Schools to cancel classes for November 5. Officials said air and water quality at schools around the crash site will be monitored in the coming days.

Latest Updates on the Crash

5:25 p.m.: Death toll rises to 12, Greenberg confirms

"I can now confirm that there are 12 fatalities," Greenberg said during a live interview with WHAS-TV, adding he believes three of the victims are likely crew members and the nine others have not yet been identified.

"The families are in shock, which is understandable," he said.

4:37 p.m.: Death toll rises to 11, including child

Gov. Andy Beshear announced November 5 that the death toll resulting from the UPS plane crash has risen to 11, including a young child.

"I expect it to rise to 12, possibly, by the end of the day, and there are a handful of other people that we're still searching for and we hope weren't on site," he said.

First responders have shifted from a "rescue to a recovery mode" as officials "do not expect to find anyone else alive in the area," he added.

Beshear spoke alongside Mayor Craig Greenberg and U.S. Rep. Morgan McGarvey, who all toured the debris field as the National Transportation Safety Board continues its investigation.

"As governor, I've seen a lot. I've had to order freezer trucks in a pandemic. I've walked the line of an F-4 tornado through my dad's hometown. I've seen towns hit by flooding we'd only describe as biblical. And what this scene is, is violent," Beshear said.

Greenberg said he, the governor and McGarvey personally know the owner of Grade A Auto Parts, one of the businesses in the path of the crash. The owner believes he may have lost some employees to the accident, but has not been able to confirm it because the area is completely inaccessible due to the wreckage.

“What we just saw at the crash site is devastating beyond words,” Greenberg said. “(It’s) unlike anything I’ve ever seen before and unlike anything I ever want to see again.”

McGarvey urged residents in Louisville to show compassion in the coming days as those impacted in the community process the event.

“What we just saw ... was like a scene out of a 'Terminator' movie," he said. "It is burned and mangled wreckage beyond anything I have ever seen. ... The smells, the sights — these are things that are not going to escape us when we close our eyes tonight."

3:30 p.m.: Federal investigators say plane engine detached from left wing

An engine on the UPS plane that crashed in Louisville Nov. 4 detached during takeoff, a federal investigator said Nov. 5.

The plane, an MD-11, lifted off the runway and gained enough altitude to clear a fence at the end of the runway, National Transportation Safety Board Board Member Todd Inman said during a news conference.

"Shortly after clearing that fence, it made impact with structures and the terrain off of airport property. A post-impact fire ensued, which covers approximately a half of a mile," Inman said.

Investigators have determined, based on reviews of CCTV security video, that the plane's left engine detached from the wing during the takeoff roll.

3:10 p.m.: New scam targeting victims' families, LMPD says

Louisville Metro Police is warning people of a scam targeting victims’ families, according to a Facebook post from the department.

LMPD officials said the department is receiving reports that scammers are contacting families, claiming to have information about their loved ones and demanding thousands of dollars.

“These criminals are taking advantage of people in pain — it’s despicable,” officials said. “Law enforcement and government officials will never ask for money for information.”

Anyone who receives one of these messages should not pay and report it to LMPD, officials said. To make a report, contact LMPD at 502-574-5673 or use the online portal.

2:50 p.m.: Beshear sets up emergency relief fund

Gov. Andy Beshear opened an emergency relief fund to help those affected by the plane crash. Money donated to the Team Kentucky Emergency Relief Fund will help with response, recovery and rebuilding, Beshear said.

“Remember the first thing that we pay for out of these funds are funerals so that in a time of grief, nobody is worried about that. In Kentucky, we grieve together and we support one another,” he said.

Beshear also named the first responders as the Team Kentucky All-Stars. According to a news release from Beshear’s office, more than 200 first responders and more than 50 fire trucks from 20 different departments were on the scene.

“I always see Kentuckians rise to the occasion. With something like this plane crash, you just see the worst of the worst, almost the unimaginable, but immediately after, we always see the best of the best,” Beshear said.

2:25 p.m.: UofL Health provides update on treatment of crash victims

Emergency department staff at UofL Hospital continue to treat two patients in critical condition due to the UPS cargo plane crash, as more than a dozen people were treated for blast injuries, burns and smoke inhalation since yesterday, UofL Health CEO Jason Smith said during a media briefing.

“Early on, we didn’t know the type of plane that had crashed, so you’re thinking worst case scenario,” Smith said.

Doctors treated patients who were hurt by shrapnel from the plane’s explosion, as well as for burns ranging in severity from “very severe to minor,” Smith said, adding the patients in critical condition “are very sick, so we’re working to treat them now."

UofL’s hospital system coordinated efforts to move patients around if more resources were available elsewhere, while also keeping in touch with Louisville Metro Emergency Services for information from the crash site, Smith said.

Emergency doctors at UofL periodically conduct trainings on mass casualty scenarios. Smith said a training from a “month and a half ago” specifically covered a plane crash.

“We were able to kind of work through our own internal processes,” he said. "Luckily, we didn’t have to activate all of those based on the number of people that came in last night."

2:20 p.m.: Greenberg, McGarvey provide updates on drinking water, rescue efforts, NTSB investigation

During a news conference, Mayor Craig Greenberg, U.S. Rep. Morgan McGarvey and Okolona Fire Chief Mark Little provided updates following the plane crash.

Greenberg said water is safe for residents to drink.

“Unless you have been specifically reached out to by the Louisville Water Company giving you an advisory, you should feel comfortable that your water is safe to drink,” he said.

Greenberg said Louisville Metro Government is continuing to monitor air quality around the crash site and the city. A temporary flight restriction has been put in place by the Federal Aviation Administration surrounding the crash site, and individuals should not fly drones over the crash site as it could “get in the way” of recovery operations, he said.

McGarvey said the crash has “rocked our community.”

“Louisville looked apocalyptic last night,” he said.

McGarvey said Kentucky’s local and state officials are working together “to make sure we get answers as quickly as possible.” The National Transportation Safety Board, which is leading the investigation, also has a team of 28 people now working on the Louisville crash, he said.

“Every resource of NTSB is being brought to bear on this. There is no impact from the shutdown whatsoever,” McGarvey said.

Little said there are currently hotspots at the site. Little said the department is going to let some spots burn, but they will be extinguished as they flare up.

The Okolona Fire Department is planning to continue its search and rescue efforts for “at least a week” or as long as the NTSB requests, Little said.

1:58 p.m.: Beshear orders flags to be lowered to half-staff to honor plane crash victims

Gov. Andy Beshear has ordered flags at all state office buildings be lowered to half-staff through sunset on November 9 in honor of the Kentuckians lost because of the catastrophic plane crash near the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport.

Flags across the commonwealth are already at half-staff in honor and remembrance of former Gov. Martha Layne Collins and former Vice President Dick Cheney. In a statement, officials said individuals, businesses and organizations throughout Kentucky are encouraged to join in the tribute.

1:50 p.m.: McConnell: 'Folks around Jefferson County need those prayers right now'

U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell thanked his congressional colleagues while speaking on the Senate floor November 5 in the wake of the UPS cargo plane crash that has killed at least nine people.

“I know that many of our colleagues will have seen the tragic news out of my hometown yesterday. And I’m grateful that their thoughts and prayers today are with the people of Louisville,” he said. “Folks around Jefferson County need those prayers right now, and in the days and weeks to come.”

He explained the crash is a “gut punch” to Louisville, with UPS Worldport being the largest of the company’s five domestic hubs.

“During the day, Louisville International hums with thousands of passengers from across the country. But around the clock, Louisville is also a hub for global shipping and logistics. Business supplies, consumer goods, Christmas gifts … if it’s going somewhere in short order, there’s a good chance it’s passing through UPS Worldport in Louisville,” McConnell said. “None of this is possible without teams of devoted professionals.”

McConnell added he spoke with Greenberg earlier in the day and will continue to keep in contact with local officials and investigating agencies.

“But first and foremost, I’m keeping my fellow Kentuckians in my prayers, and I’d ask our colleagues to do the same,” he said.

1:10 p.m.: Air traffic control staffing during crash unclear

When asked about air traffic control staffing at the time of the UPS flight, the Federal Aviation Administration said it is not responding to "routine media inquiries" due to a lapse in funding.

“As Secretary Duffy has said, there have been increased staffing shortages across the system. When that happens, the FAA slows traffic into some airports to ensure safe operations," the FAA wrote in an Oct. 6 general statement on air traffic controllers. "For real-time flight impacts at U.S. airports due to staffing, weather, or other factors, please visit www.fly.faa.gov.”

12:58 p.m.: Thousands of LG&E customers in Jefferson County without power

More than 8,000 LG&E customers in Jeffersontown, Fisherville and other communities in southeast Jefferson County are without power the afternoon of November 5, according to data from LG&E’s outage map.

The outage was first reported at 12:06 p.m., according to the map. There was no estimated time of restoration provided, as crews were assessing the condition of the affected infrastructure.

LG&E officials said in a statement they are “aware of outages in this area and will provide an estimated time of restoration as soon as possible.”

The cause of the outage is unclear. Company officials said earlier November 5 its crews are coordinating with local emergency management officials to ensure safety around the electric and natural gas utilities near the site of the UPS cargo plane crash from November 4. More than 90 natural gas customers and 140 electric customers were without service at 10:30 a.m., officials confirmed.

The Courier Journal has reached out to LG&E for comment.

11:50 a.m.: Beshear declares state of emergency

During a news conference, Gov. Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency following the November 4 plane crash.

"It allows us to move resources more quickly through emergency management and the Kentucky National Guard," he said.

The state of emergency also allows state resources through agencies — including disaster resource management, expenses related to response and reimbursement — to be more readily available.

"It's going to help to make sure that groups that are already limited in terms of their funding can get some immediate or short-term help as they wait for reimbursement for the costs that they've expended," Beshear said.

11:10 a.m.: Air, water quality testing results normal, JCPS says

Shortly before 11 a.m., Jefferson County Public School leaders said the air and water quality testing results from several schools closest to the plane crash site had come back normal.

Plant operators at each of the 155 instructional sites across the district were tasked with conducting quality checks November 5, and JCPS' safety and environmental team also went to "20 schools that were closest to the smoke plume to do even more intensive testing," district spokeswoman Carolyn Callahan told The Courier Journal.

"At this time, everything has come back normal," she said.

Despite the positive results, the district has not announced whether or not classes will resume Thursday.

10:30 a.m.: More than 200 LG&E customers without service

More than 90 natural gas customers and 140 electric customers are without service, LG&E and KU said in a November 5 statement. The number of affected customers is expected to change as work continues.

The interruptions come after the company de-energized power lines into a nearby substation and isolated a portion of its natural gas system. Once the company receives clearance to “safely access the area,” crews will assess any damage and work to restore service, officials said.

“Our electric and natural gas crews and employees from across the company are responding to the situation, working closely with emergency responders and emergency management officials to ensure our systems are protected and those in the area remain safe while performing their critical work,” officials said.

LG&E representatives are also working with the Louisville Emergency Operations Center to coordinate efforts.

“This is a tragic situation, and our thoughts are with all those impacted. All LG&E employees have been accounted for, and we will continue to support emergency responders however we can,” officials said.

10:28 a.m.: 2 injured from plane crash remain in critical condition, 13 discharged from UofL health facilities

Two people injured from the UPS plane crash remain in critical condition inside the intensive care unit at the University of Louisville Hospital November 5, UofL Health spokesperson Heather Fountaine said in a statement.

Of the 15 patients received at UofL hospitals and medical centers, 13 have been discharged, Fountaine said.

Local and state officials said earlier November 5 the death toll from the crash had risen to nine.

10 a.m.: GLI officials prepared to support Louisville businesses near site of UPS plane crash

Leaders of Greater Louisville Inc., the city’s chamber of commerce, are reaching out to businesses November 5 that are near the site of yesterday’s plane crash “to assess any way that our business community can support” them, President and CEO Sarah Davasher-Wisdom said in a message to investors.

“Our hearts are heavy this morning as we mourn the loss of members of our community who were victims of last night’s tragic UPS plane crash,” Davasher-Wisdom said. “This accident hits close to home for many of us as business leaders who strive everyday to keep our employees safe.”

Davasher-Wisdom also thanked first responders “who courageously sprung into action to keep our community safe and prevent even further destruction.”

“If your business has been impacted, please don’t hesitate to reach out and we would be happy to connect you with resources inside and outside the community for financial, operational, or emotional support,” she said.

9:30 a.m.: JCPS conducting air, water quality tests at buildings near crash site

Jefferson County Public Schools teams are conducting air and water quality tests at school buildings November 5 while classrooms are closed due to yesterday's UPS cargo plane crash, district officials said in a statement.

"We are doing these checks out of an abundance of caution, as the safety of our students and staff is our top priority,” the statement read.

In the update, school officials also advised families in need of food assistance to contact Dare to Care Food Bank. A list of Louisville-area Dare to Care sites can be found here.

When schools reopen, students will have access to mental health professionals on campus.

“We know situations like what happened last night impact our students in different ways,” school officials said. “Every JCPS school has a mental health team that is available to talk with students about how they are feeling.”

Updates on the status of schools for November 6 are expected to be delivered via text, email, JCPS' social media pages, the JCPS app and the district’s website.

9:15 a.m.: Muhammad Ali Center free for JCPS students, guardians

Admission into the Muhammad Ali Center in downtown Louisville is free November 5 for JCPS students, and their accompanying parents and guardians, spokesperson Dustin Vogt said in a statement.

JCPS schools are closed November 5 due to the UPS cargo plane crash near Muhammad Ali International Airport yesterday.

"We continue to send our hearts and condolences out to all crewmembers, families, businesses and everyone impacted by yesterday's tragedy," Ali Center officials said in an official statement.

9 a.m.: SDF reopened, but some taxiways are closed

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, SDF has reopened, though “multiple taxiways remain closed.”

The FAA and NTSB are on the scene investigating. The NTSB will lead the investigation and provide all updates. The FAA will coordinate with the UPS team, FAA officials said.

To check the status of the airport, visit https://nasstatus.faa.gov/.

8:40 a.m.: Crash leaves at least nine dead

In a post on X, Beshear said the number of fatalities has now risen to at least nine, “with the possibility of more.”

“Right now, these families need prayers, love and support. Let’s wrap our arms around them during this unimaginable time,” he said.

8 a.m.: UPS halts some operations at UPS Worldport

UPS halted Second Day Air sort operations at its UPS Worldport facility, according to a November 5 statement from the company.

“Hub and Ramp employees on the Second Day Air sort should not report to work,” spokesperson Jim Mayer said.

The plane crash, which occurred around 5:20 p.m. November 4, is the deadliest in UPS Airlines history.

“We are terribly saddened by the accident tonight in Louisville. Our heartfelt thoughts are with everyone involved,” the company wrote in a statement. “UPS is committed to the safety of our employees, our customers and the communities we serve.”

7:30 a.m.: 16 still unaccounted for

According to a post on X from Gov. Andy Beshear, 16 people are still unaccounted for after a “significant search and rescue mission” last night. Rescue efforts are continuing.

“This is going to be a tough day for Kentucky after yesterday’s deadly plane crash. As of this morning we still have at least 7 fatalities – though sadly we believe that number will grow,” Beshear said.

Greenberg said in a post on X that the search is expected to “take a while” as it covers a “very large area.” Over 200 first responders were at the scene last night, he said.

7:20 a.m.: Shelter in place reduced again

As of 6:30 a.m., the shelter in place order has been reduced to a quarter-mile radius surrounding the crash site, according to a post on X from Louisville Metro Emergency Services.

Following the crash, the shelter in place extended from the airport northward to the Ohio River around 6 p.m. November 4, and areas south of Outer Loop were later cleared around 7:15 p.m.

Jefferson County Public Schools are closed November 5 “due to the necessary shelter-in-place order issued by the city,” spokesperson Carolyn Callahan said in a statement. “This will operate like a snow day, with no online instruction,” Callahan said.

7 a.m.: SDF expected to be open, though delays, cancellations anticipated

In a November 4 statement, spokesperson Natalie Chaudoin said SDF, the Louisville airport, is “expected to be available for passenger and cargo operations” on November 5. Delays and cancellations are still likely, and travelers who are scheduled to depart from or arrive at the airport should monitor their flight status, she said.

In a post on X, Mayor Craig Greenberg said one runway at SDF has reopened.

According to FlyLouisville’s website, some flights departing from SDF are delayed, with flights from the evening of November 4 now scheduled throughout the morning. Over 10 flights scheduled to depart from SDF have been canceled. No flights arriving at SDF have been canceled.

6 a.m.: Death toll stands at 7, NTSB to lead investigation

A lengthy investigation is expected to begin November 5 as local and federal officials begin trying to piece together what led to a "catastrophic" crash of a UPS transport plane at the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board were expected to arrive to lead the investigation into the crash, which left at least seven people dead. Both Greenberg and Gov. Andy Beshear said they expect the number to rise in the coming days.

Louisville Fire Chief Brian O'Neill described the crash as an "incredible, large-scale mass-casualty incident" and said crews were still working to contain the fire roughly five hours after the initial incident. Plumes of smoke from the blaze prompted shelter-in-place orders for large portions of central Louisville and into Southern Indiana, but was reduced to a one-mile radius around the crash site shortly before 10:30 p.m.

Officials continue to urge residents to avoid the area if possible and not to touch any debris they might find over the next several days.