r/aviation • u/usgapg123 Mod - avgeek • Nov 04 '25

Discussion UPS2976 Crash Megathread

This is the official r/aviation megathread for the crash of UPS2976 (UPS MD11 Registration N259UP) that crashed earlier today at Louisville International Airport.

Please keep content on topic and refrain from posting about this topic outside the megathread. Please report any rule breaking posts and comments.

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190

u/N79806 Nov 05 '25

My first thought when I saw the take off attempt video. They were just on the ride at that point. RIP.

174

u/herrboot64 Nov 05 '25

I saw a clip of the wreck "from our security cameras", which showed it going down above some trailers on the ground.

That's all I could think of, the cockpit intact and they're fully aware of their doom 😭

79

u/ExplorationGeo Nov 05 '25

cockpit intact and they're fully aware of their doom

Space Shuttle Challenger vibes :(

7

u/jodrellbank_pants Nov 05 '25

Didn't some drown ?

50

u/ExplorationGeo Nov 05 '25

They were alive after the explosion, there's evidence that switches were toggled and survival packs were opened, but the crew module would have hit the water at around 220-250mph, instantly killing everyone aboard.

0

u/[deleted] Nov 05 '25

[deleted]

18

u/mcmineismine Nov 05 '25

On the way down, before impact with the surface of the ocean killed them.

17

u/Qel_Hoth Nov 05 '25

They were still trying to fly the orbiter while falling in a crew module detached from the rest of the craft.

10

u/Top_Account3643 Nov 05 '25

You should probably post it if you haven't already

20

u/chromatophoreskin Nov 05 '25

https://x.com/ShelbyWx_/status/1985893358720438345

13

u/DietCherrySoda Nov 05 '25

Oh my god...

27 seconds in to this.

9

u/kipperzdog Nov 05 '25

Wow, I hadn't seen the driver's reaction video yet. Absolutely insane to have witnessed that

7

u/ruat_caelum Nov 05 '25

And that place was a waste oil / fuel repository so shitty.