Timeline: Flight data depicts UPS cargo jet’s final minutes before fatal KY crash

By Wednesday morning, at least 12 people were confirmed dead after the UPS cargo jet crash in Louisville. Several others were injured in the incident, which occurred late Tuesday afternoon.

The ill-fated flight was a regularly scheduled cargo service the delivery company operates to Honolulu three times a week, according to public aviation data. The wide-body, tri-engine McDonnell Douglas MD-11F had arrived from Baltimore earlier that morning and was set to depart Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport at 3 p.m., according to Flightradar24 records.

However, data show the jet did not begin taxiing for takeoff until around 5:08 p.m., a delay of about two hours. The reason for the delay remains unknown.

Moments before the crash

Video footage captured the aircraft accelerating down Louisville International Airport’s longest runway with the No. 1 engine—mounted on the left wing—engulfed in flames. Moments later, data indicate the jet climbed only 175 feet before veering sharply toward an industrial area just south of the airport.

“The aircraft impacted nearby buildings and exploded.”

First responders quickly reached the scene to battle the intense blaze fueled by roughly 38,000 gallons of jet fuel onboard.

Flight data summary

Departure scheduled: 3:00 p.m.
Actual takeoff: 5:08 p.m.
Aircraft type: McDonnell Douglas MD-11F
Fuel load: Approximately 38,000 gallons
Fatalities: At least 12

This article was first published on November 5, 2025, at 1:14 p.m.

Author’s Summary

The UPS cargo plane crash in Louisville killed at least twelve people; flight data and eyewitness videos suggest an engine fire moments before impact.

Lexington Herald Leader — 2025-11-05