Caught on Camera: UPS Plane Bound for Hawaii Explodes Moments After Takeoff
Watch videos taken by individuals showing the moment a large UPS Airlines cargo plane crashed and exploded while headed to Hawaii. Flight 2976 departed from Louisville, Kentucky with three crew members on board. In one of the videos, it appears one of the engines was on fire before the aircraft climbed to any significant altitude.
The aircraft, a McDonnell Douglas MD‑11F (tail number N259UP) operated by UPS, took off from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF), Kentucky, bound for Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (Honolulu, Hawaii). There were 3 crew members aboard. The crash occurred shortly after take-off on 4 November 2025 (local time). Video and eyewitness footage show the aircraft with visible fire on or near the left wing/engine as it lifted off or attempted to climb. According to initial tracking data, the aircraft reached a relatively low altitude (about 175 ft) and ground speed of ~186 knots before descending. The aircraft was heavily fuelled for the long haul (Louisville to Honolulu — ~8–9 hours) which increases the potential severity of any failure at take-off time. The crash site involved industrial buildings near the airport, and there were casualties on the ground in addition to those aboard.
