LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Ky., has declared a state of emergency after Tuesday’s deadly UPS cargo plane crash that killed at least nine people, he said during a news conference.
Declaring a state of emergency helps expedite resources and support, Beshear said. The Team Kentucky Emergency Relief Fund has been activated for donations. Funds will help with funerals, recovery and rebuilding. He urged the importance of unity and grieving together, encouraging Kentuckians to donate.
Beshear said he expects the death toll could grow by at least one more but is hopeful it won’t increase otherwise. Search-and-rescue efforts continue.
“We hope it doesn’t grow by too many more,” the governor said.
Members of the National Transportation Safety Board arrived on the ground Wednesday morning and are leading the investigation, Beshear said. U.S. Rep. Morgan McGarvey, D-Louisville, said 28 NTSB investigators are on the ground with support from Washington, D.C.
Beshear posted online Wednesday morning that 16 families who gathered at a reunification center “have reported loved ones unaccounted for.” The center is located at 2911 Taylor Blvd., with resources including the Louisville Metro Police Department Victims Unit, Red Cross and Seven Counties.
Mayor Craig Greenberg, D-Louisville, expressed empathy and support for victims’ families and the wider community. Those seeking urgent support should call 988; those with non-emergencies should call the city’s Office of Violence Prevention at 502-574-6949. Families needing food can call Dare to Care at 502-966-3821.
Greenberg said he, Beshear, McGarvey and others are coordinating at all levels, and there is strong bipartisan cooperation from federal and state lawmakers including Republican U.S. Senators Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul.
“The reality is, this rocked our community,” McGarvey said. “Louisville looked apocalyptic last night.”
The plane, UPS Flight 2976, crashed around 5:15 p.m. Tuesday as it was departing for Honolulu from UPS Worldport at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, crashing and exploding in a massive fireball.
A statement from UofL Health Wednesday morning said that it treated 15 patients related to the incident; 13 of them have been discharged, while two remain in critical condition.
A plume of smoke rises from the site of a UPS cargo plane crash at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, in Louisville. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry)
The airport is 7 miles from downtown Louisville. Emergency officials initially put out a shelter-in-place order for a 5-mile radius. Greenberg said he’s hopeful that can continue to shrink.
By Wednesday morning, that was reduced to a quarter-of-a-mile radius. The air quality in the broader Louisville area is deemed safe, and water is safe to drink citywide unless directly advised by Louisville Water Company. About 135 Louisville Gas & Electric customers are still without power as the company restores service.
A Temporary Flight Restriction remains around the crash site; private drones are banned in the area and violators could face federal fines or prosecution, Greenberg said.
“We will find your drone, and you run the risk of prosecution, of heavy federal fines,” Greenberg said. “Please do not be that person that is getting in the way of our recovery efforts.”
Video showed flames on the plane’s left wing and a trail of smoke. The plane then lifted slightly off the ground before crashing and exploding in a huge fireball. Video also revealed portions of a building’s shredded roof next to the end of the runway. Beshear said the plane had 38,000 gallons of fuel.
He thanked the Okolona Fire Department as they were the main responding agency, but several fire departments from additional areas provided support or backfilled local stations. Mark Little, Okolona fire chief, just two weeks ago, crews had conducted a training exercise with Louisville Fire and Airport Authority to prepare for these types of incidents.
Beshear said a business, Kentucky Petroleum Recycling, appeared to be “hit pretty directly,” and a nearby auto parts operation was also affected. He said the crash narrowly missed a restaurant bar, a Ford plant, and the city’s convention center that was hosting a livestock show.
He said he didn’t know the status of the three crew members aboard the plane, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 made in 1991. It wasn’t immediately clear if they were being counted among the dead.
“Anybody who has seen the images, the video, knows how violent this crash is,” he said.
UPS announced Tuesday night that it had halted package sorting at the center and didn’t say when it would resume. The hub employs thousands of workers, has 300 daily flights and sorts more than 400,000 packages an hour.
“We all know somebody who works at UPS,” asid Metro Council member Betsy Ruhe, D-21. “And they’re all texting their friends, their family, trying to make sure everyone is safe. Sadly, some of those texts are probably going to go unanswered.”
The airport, meanwhile, shut down for the night. It resumed operations Wednesday morning, with at least one runway open. Flights that were canceled Tuesday were scheduled to depart and arrive first. Some flights previously scheduled to take off from the airport Wednesday morning were canceled.
ARRIVALS TO SDF
DEPARTURES FROM SDF
Some stranded passengers spent the night in the airport.
Some roads near the airport remained closed Wednesday, and Jefferson County Public Schools canceled classes and activities for the day.
Greenberg reiterated continued support and ongoing coordination with state and federal teams.
“No one should have to deal with tragedy alone,” the mayor said.
Spectrum News Staff, Associated Press
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