The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released newly recovered footage showing the devastating aftermath of Tuesday’s UPS Flight 2976 crash in Louisville, Kentucky, which left at least 13 people dead and more than eight others unaccounted for. The images reveal charred homes, twisted wreckage, and scorched vehicles scattered across a densely populated neighborhood near Muhammad Ali International Airport.

The UPS cargo jet, a 34-year-old McDonnell Douglas MD-11, went down shortly after takeoff on November 4, 2025, when its left engine reportedly separated mid-climb. The crash killed all three crew members on board—Captain Richard Wartenberg, First Officer Lee Truitt, and Relief Captain Dana Diamond—along with eleven residents on the ground, including 3-year-old Kimberly Asa and her grandfather, Louisnes Fedon. Rescue teams continue to search the wreckage for additional victims.

Preliminary flight data suggests the crew reported a recurring cockpit alarm moments before impact, and investigators are focusing on the aircraft’s recent maintenance history, which included fuel tank repairs. The NTSB confirmed that a comprehensive forensic examination of the engine mounts and flight control systems is now underway.

In a joint move reflecting the seriousness of the incident, both UPS and FedEx have voluntarily grounded their MD-11 fleets pending inspection results. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has since issued an emergency airworthiness directive mandating immediate checks of engine attachments and related components across all U.S.-registered MD-11 aircraft.

Louisville Fire Chief Harold Michaels described the crash site as “an inferno of metal and aviation fuel,” while Governor Ron DeSantis expressed condolences and pledged full state support for recovery operations. Crews worked overnight to extinguish hotspots and sift through debris as federal teams collected data recorders and voice logs for analysis in Washington, D.C.

For Louisville residents, the tragedy has left an indelible scar on the city—transforming a quiet morning into one of unimaginable loss. The NTSB is expected to release an initial report within weeks, but full conclusions on the cause of the disaster may take months.