Updated November 17, 2025
On November 4, 2025, UPS Flight 2976, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 cargo jet, crashed shortly after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF), impacting an industrial area near UPS Worldport. Federal and local officials have reported multiple fatalities, including the flight crew, and additional injuries on the ground. The NTSB is leading the investigation; both the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and flight data recorder (FDR) were recovered.
Confirmed facts so far
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Flight/aircraft: UPS 2976 (MD-11, tail N259UP), departing SDF for Honolulu (HNL). The accident occurred just after 5:13–5:15 p.m. ET during takeoff.
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Casualties: Officials have reported a rising toll in the days after the crash as recovery progressed, with media and authorities noting deaths among the three crew and multiple ground victims; dozens were injured. (Counts may be updated as officials identify victims.)
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Early focal issues: Witness/video evidence and preliminary briefings reference a left engine separation before impact; the NTSB has cautioned that the cause remains under investigation.
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Airport/operations: SDF reopened the next day with one runway closed for inspections; Worldport experienced temporary operational pauses.
The NTSB’s official investigation page for DCA26MA024 provides authoritative updates and will later host the public docket (factual reports, data, exhibits).
What happens next: the NTSB/FAA process
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NTSB (49 C.F.R. Part 831): Leads the safety investigation, conducts on-scene work, lab analyses, and releases a public docket before any final report on probable cause. CVR audio is not released to the public; transcripts or summaries may appear in the docket.
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FAA/ATC: The FAA preserves air traffic control audio and radar/ADS-B tracks under agency orders and supports the investigation.
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Regulatory actions: News outlets report fleet/inspection directives affecting MD-11 operations while facts develop; always defer to official FAA/NTSB notices for current status.
If your family was affected: act in the first week
Evidence cycles fast at a global hub like Worldport. Preserve it immediately:
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Airport & ramp video — Request preservation from the Louisville Regional Airport Authority (SDF) and UPS/tenant vendors (camera IDs, angles, and full time windows). Retention can be short.
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Ground-vehicle telematics/video — Tugs, belt-loaders, fuel/de-ice trucks often carry video-telematics (speed, g-events, operator logins, GPS breadcrumbs). Ask for native files + metadata (CSV/JSON), not just clips.
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ATC audio/radar — Ask FAA to preserve the tower/approach recordings and surveillance data; these are time-limited.
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Airline ops/maintenance — Request Part 121 records (dispatch/weight-and-balance, crew duty/rest, MEL/CDL status, relevant maintenance and airworthiness releases).
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Incident identifiers — Obtain the airport police/KSP incident number; list names of responding agencies and any known witnesses or badge/vehicle IDs.
Who can be liable (plain-English overview)
Depending on facts, potential defendants may include: the air carrier (Part 121 cargo operator), ground-service vendors (ramp operations, fueling, de-ice, maintenance), premises/airport entities (as permitted by law), and manufacturers (aircraft, engine, or ground-support equipment). Fault is determined after investigators analyze the operational, maintenance, human-factors, and environmental record.
Damages & Kentucky timelines (high-level)
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Wrongful death: Brought by a Personal Representative (PR); Kentucky measures damages by the destruction of the decedent’s earning power and distributes by statute. Open probate promptly to appoint the PR.
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Survival claims: Pre-death medical bills, pain/suffering, and wages between injury and death go to the estate.
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Limitations: Aviation crashes aren’t governed by Kentucky’s MVRA motor-vehicle timing; some claims may be as short as one year (and there are special timing rules tied to PR appointment). Act quickly to protect all deadlines.
How Morrin Law Office helps in Louisville
We coordinate both tracks at once:
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Evidence lockdown (multi-custodian preservation to the Airport Authority, UPS, and vendors; FAA preservation for ATC data),
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Probate/PR setup so wrongful-death claims are filed correctly and on time, and
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Case build-out using NTSB docket materials once posted, along with ramp video and telematics.
Free consultation. No upfront fees—we’re paid only if we recover.
Sources & live updates
We will keep this page current as officials release verified information. Authoritative and reputable reporting to date includes:
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NTSB investigation page (DCA26MA024) — official hub for the case and future docket materials. ntsb.gov
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Reuters — initial casualty counts, airport/runway status, engine-separation focus. Reuters
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ABC News — briefing details (altitude, recorder status; FAA/NTSB roles). ABC News
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AP — regulatory/fleet actions reported after the crash. AP News
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The Guardian — updates on fatalities and investigation context. The Guardian
If you lost a loved one or were injured, we’re available to help your family navigate evidence, deadlines, and next steps.
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