UPS plane crashes after takeoff at Louisville, KY, killing at least 7 – National & International News – TUE 4Nov2025

UPS plane crashes after takeoff at Louisville, KY, killing at least 7.

Mamdani projected to win NYC mayoral race that drew nationwide attention and controversy.

UPS plane crashes after takeoff at Louisville, KY, killing at least 7 and injuring many

This afternoon, a UPS McDonnell Douglas MD-11 took off from Muhammad Ali International Airport in Louisville, KY, only to crash moments later in an industrial park near the airfield. Videos circulating online show the MD-11’s left wing bursting into flame just after take off. The plane crashes seconds later, sending up a massive fireball. The plane was headed to Hawaii and was carrying a lot of fuel. To make matters worse, the plane crashed into a petroleum recycling plant, setting off a chain reaction of explosions and fires.

Local first responders attended the scene immediately but had to take cover themselves against the intense flames and massive plume of dense black smoke. The possibility of more explosions increased the need for caution. Authorities issued shelter-in-place orders for a 5-mile radius around the crash site. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said that there could be extensive environmental impacts from the crash.

As of now, 7 people are confirmed dead, including the plane’s three crew members, and at least 11 others are injured.

The accident seems to have been caused by some sort of catastrophic mechanical failure in the plane’s left engine. The National Transportation Safety boar will be investigating.

The MD-11 was built in 1991 and modified to carry freight on long-haul flights. Louisville is home to UPS’s largest handling center. The hub employs thousands of people, sorts 400,000 packages an hour, and operates about 300 flights per day.

UPS maintains its own air fleet and in general has a good safety record. In the last 15 years, UPS has only had two fatal crashes, one caused by pilot error and another caused by a cargo of lithium batteries that caught fire. If a mechanical cause is found to be at fault, it would be the first time in UPS’s aviation history.

Transportation Secretary says parts of US airspace may have to closed. The government shutdown has exacerbated a long-standing air traffic controller shortage.

Mamdani projected to win NYC mayoral race that drew nationwide attention and controversy

Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani is now projected to win the New York City mayoral race with 87% of the votes recorded. Mamdani, the city’s first South Asian and Muslim mayor, drew widespread attention with a left populist campaign focused on tackling New York’s affordability crisis. He has defeated former New York state Governor Andrew Cuomo, who resigned in disgrace in 2021 after 13 women accused him of sexual harassment.

The race at times was extremely divisive with fellow Democrats attacking Mamdani both over his democratic socialist policies and his long-standing condemnation of Israel’s policies toward the Palestinians. Establishment Democrats, including many New York Democrats, were slow to endorse Mamdani his victory over Cuomo, current Mayor Eric Adams and others in the crowded Democratic primary.

Pro-Israel billionaires (including former Mayor Michael Bloomberg and hedge fund manager Bill Ackman) funded a massive advertising campaign that attempted to stoke fear among Jewish New Yorkers. Cuomo and Adams frequently attacked Mamdani over his domestic governance policies and his stance on Israel, calling him a “terrorist sympathizer”. In a podcast appearance, Cuomo appeared to agree with the conservative host’s statement that Mamdani “would be cheering” if the city experienced another 9/11-style attack.

However, many Jewish New Yorkers (particularly young people) enthusiastically supported Mamdani’s campaign, forming a key part of his massive door-knocking and outreach campaign. Even leaders in New York’s conservative Jewish Hasidic community declined to endorse Cuomo and criticized his “scare campaign” against Mamdani.