A Cuban couple who were driving near Louisville Airport, Kentucky, last Tuesday witnessed the moment when a UPS cargo plane crashed shortly after takeoff, causing a massive fire and a thick column of black smoke visible for miles.
The video was shared on Instagram by journalist Alexis Boentes from Telemundo 51, and it has gone viral in just a few hours.
In the recording, you can hear the panic of the man and the woman as they witness the accident from just a few meters away.
"Oh my God! Back up, daddy! Did you see? I'm telling you, my God," she shouts as the driver maneuvered to get away from the scene. "But what the f... is this?" he replies, stunned by the magnitude of the disaster.
Around him, other vehicles also move away from the area, while the fire consumes what appears to be the structure where the aircraft crashed.
The video, filmed from inside the vehicle, shows the moment when a column of dense smoke rises rapidly, filling the sky.
Local witnesses reported that the explosion was so powerful that it shook windows for several blocks around
In the comments section of the post, another Cuban revealed that her family lives near the airport. "The accident after takeoff spread the fire in an auto repair shop... There are reports of injuries," she said.
The accident of UPS flight 2976
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the aircraft—a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 freighter—crashed around 5:15 PM (local time), shortly after taking off from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky.
The aircraft departed for Honolulu, Hawaii. It was carrying fuel and other materials considered hazardous.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation, while the FAA is involved in the technical analysis of the aircraft, manufactured in 1991.
Although the number of victims has not been officially confirmed, local emergency sources reported several injuries.
UPS, in a statement, expressed that its "top priority is the safety of its people" and assured that it is fully cooperating with the authorities.
"At this time, we have not confirmed any injuries or casualties," the company added.
The impact sparked a fire that engulfed part of an industrial area near the airport; witnesses reported large flames and columns of black smoke rising from the crash site, along with multiple explosions.
Emergency reactions and operations
The authorities in Louisville issued a shelter-in-place order for residents of several neighborhoods north of the airport up to the Ohio River.
According to journalist Alexis Boentes from Telemundo 51, authorities have advised the public to take shelter in their homes within a five-mile radius of the airport due to intense fire activity and the extensive area of debris.
The governor of Kentucky, Andy Beshear, urged the public to "remain calm" and confirmed that emergency teams acted quickly to control the fire and assist those affected.
"We are aware of the accident reported near Louisville International Airport. Emergency teams are on the scene. Please pray for the pilots, the crew, and all those affected," he wrote on X.
The Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) reported that the area of Fern Valley Road and Grade Lane will remain closed indefinitely while investigation and cleanup efforts continue.
Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, known for being UPS Worldport's global logistics hub, processes more than two million packages daily and employs around 12,000 people.
The accident has left the Louisville community on edge as authorities work to determine what caused the aviation tragedy.
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