Reports are breaking Tuesday afternoon that a UPS plane has crashed near Muhammad Ali International Airport in Louisville, Kentucky. Multiple videos have been posted to social media showing a massive fireball; injuries have been reported, but the nature and the number of people hurt remain unknown.

Reports of a massive explosion and resulting fire, possibly the result of a crash involving a cargo plane with UPS Airlines, near Muhammad Ali International Airport in Louisville, Kentucky. pic.twitter.com/HtTQLVDH6D

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) November 4, 2025

Local TV station WLKY has the report:

A plane has crashed at Louisville's international airport.

MetroSafe said reports of an explosion were made near Grade Lane and Fern Valley Road.

LMPD said injuries have been reported.

There is a shelter in place issued within a 5-mile radius of the airport. Flames can be seen for miles and there is a lot of debris flying.

WLKY has a crew headed to the scene to gather more information.

No other details have been released. This story will be updated.

Videos are circulating purporting to show the crash as it happened (profanity alert):

? BREAKING: Footage from Louisville International Airport shows UPS cargo plane ON FIRE as it barrels down the runway, and EXPLODES on impact

This is absolutely terrifying.

Keep praying for the crew and any victims on the ground ?? pic.twitter.com/gevLlCkRLI

— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) November 4, 2025

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The Federal Aviation Administration has announced they’re investigating:

UPS Flight 2976 crashed around 5:15 p.m. local time on Tuesday, Nov. 4, after departing from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky. The McDonnell Douglas MD-11 was headed to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu. The FAA and NTSB will investigate.…

— The FAA ✈️ (@FAANews) November 4, 2025

The FAA and NTSB will investigate. The NTSB will lead the investigation and will provide all updates. 

This information is preliminary and subject to change.

The plane was reportedly headed to Hawaii:

UPS Flight 2976 crashed just after 5 p.m. local time and was headed to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, according to a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration, which is investigating the crash along with the National Transportation Safety Board. The NTSB will lead the investigation, the FAA said Tuesday.

Louisville Metro Police Department and other agencies are responding to the reported plane crash, LMPD said in an X post. Injuries have been reported, police said.

A massive plume of black smoke is rising not far from the tarmac at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, videos from CNN affiliate WAVE show.

Anyone have an idea what’s going on at UPS or the airport? Massive smoke cloud going down 65S pic.twitter.com/70jL95KExP

— Ryan L Smith (@ryanlsmith_) November 4, 2025

The McDonnell Douglas MD-11F is a freight transport aircraft manufactured originally by McDonnell Douglas and later by Boeing. The aircraft is primarily flown by FedEx Express, Lufthansa Cargo and UPS Airlines for cargo.

RedState will keep you updated as events warrant on this breaking story.