Dashcam Captures Moment UPS Cargo Plane Erupts Into Fireball After Crashing in Louisville, Kentucky

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY — A terrifying scene unfolded Tuesday evening in Louisville, when a UPS cargo plane plummeted from the sky and exploded into a massive fireball, sending shockwaves through nearby streets and engulfing the area in flames.

The horrifying crash of UPS Cargo Flight 2976 was captured on a dashcam video that has since gone viral, showing the moment the aircraft disintegrated on impact — scattering debris and igniting an inferno that lit up the Kentucky sky.

Dashcam Shows Impact and Fireball

The footage, shared by Raw Alerts, begins with a quiet street view before a sudden explosion fills the frame. A massive orange fireball erupts as black smoke towers hundreds of feet into the air, followed by shockwaves that shake the vehicles on the road.

Nearby drivers and pedestrians can be seen abandoning their cars and running for cover, as flames quickly consume surrounding structures. The impact occurred near a tire and auto shop, identified as Chris Tires, located just off a main road in an industrial area of Louisville.

Witnesses described the moment as “like a bomb going off.”

“It was just this unbelievable roar, then everything went orange,” said a bystander who captured additional footage on his phone. “You could feel the heat from blocks away.”

Flight 2976 Went Down Minutes After Takeoff

According to preliminary reports from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the UPS Boeing 757 cargo flight had just departed from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) when it encountered an unknown malfunction around 6:10 p.m. local time.

The plane lost altitude rapidly before striking the ground and bursting into flames near a commercial strip lined with warehouses and repair shops.

Emergency responders from Louisville Fire & Rescue, local police, and UPS’s emergency operations rushed to the scene within minutes, battling the intense blaze that engulfed several vehicles and nearby buildings.

No Survivors Confirmed So Far

As of Wednesday morning, officials have not released a confirmed death toll, but authorities believe there were no survivors among the flight crew. UPS has yet to disclose the number of personnel on board the aircraft.

Louisville Metro Police and FAA investigators are securing the crash site while the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is expected to arrive to begin its formal investigation into what caused the disaster.

Residents Describe Chaos and Shockwave

Locals across several neighborhoods reported hearing what sounded like an explosion or earthquake, with windows rattling miles away from the crash zone.

“The shockwave hit our building so hard, I thought it was a gas main,” said one nearby business owner. “We saw the fireball rise higher than the trees — it looked like the whole sky was burning.”

Power outages and structural damage were reported in nearby areas, though no civilian injuries have been confirmed so far.

FAA and NTSB Launch Investigation

The FAA confirmed that it is coordinating closely with UPS and local authorities to gather black box data and radar information. Early witness accounts suggest the plane may have been trailing smoke before impact, though officials caution it’s too early to determine whether mechanical failure, fire, or pilot distress played a role.

UPS released a short statement expressing condolences and confirming cooperation with investigators:

“We are deeply saddened by this tragic event. Our priority now is to support our employees, investigators, and the Louisville community as we work to understand what happened.”

Fire Contained, Investigation Underway

By late evening, firefighters had successfully contained the blaze, but the crash site remains closed off under federal supervision. The area surrounding Highway 31 and Outer Loop Road was still cordoned off Wednesday morning for safety and debris cleanup.

Officials are urging residents to avoid the area while environmental crews assess potential fuel contamination from the wreckage.

A City Shaken by Tragedy

Louisville residents are mourning the loss while praising the swift response of local firefighters who risked their lives to control the inferno.

The viral video, now circulating across social media platforms, has drawn millions of views and reactions from users expressing shock and sympathy for the victims.

As federal investigators continue their probe, Kentucky’s governor is expected to release a formal statement addressing the tragedy later today.

For continuing updates on this developing story, visit SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.