On the evening of Tuesday, November 4, 2025, a routine cargo flight from UPS Airlines out of Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport ended in catastrophe when the three-person crew lost their lives and scores more were killed on the ground.
The victims onboard the flight have been officially identified: Captain Richard Wartenberg, First Officer Lee Truitt and International Relief Officer Captain Dana Diamond. Their names now mark the heart of this tragedy, as a community reels from an event that was meant to be no different than countless previous departures from the world’s busiest freight hub.
The aircraft, a 34-year-old McDonnell Douglas MD‑11F freighter, rolled onto the runway with full thrust, bound for Honolulu. Within seconds of take-off it hit a critical barrier: its left engine separated and the left wing ignited mid-roll. Investigators describe a terrifying scene: lifting briefly, the plane then plunged into a populated industrial zone beyond the runway, and exploded into a fireball that left a massive trail of debris and destruction.
Ground fatalities now stand at at least 10 (bringing the confirmed total deaths to 13) with a number of injured still being treated and some unaccounted for. Among those on the ground were employees of nearby businesses, and the wreckage extended across a half-mile debris field that complicated both rescue and recovery efforts.
The investigation is zeroing in on maintenance history. The aircraft had recently spent more than a month in San Antonio undergoing repairs, including work around a structural crack in the center wing fuel tank. The (NTSB) announced that both the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder were recovered intact, offering crucial insights into the final moments of the flight.
For the workforce of UPS in Louisville — home to its largest global air-cargo hub where over 20,000 people are employed and hundreds of flights depart daily — this isn’t just a headline, it’s a deep wound. Company leadership expressed sorrow and solidarity, offering support to employees, the local community and the families of the crew.
Residents of Louisville remain shocked by the scale of the calamity. One local described the wreckage zone as “like a scene out of a ‘Terminator’ movie.” Authorities are cautioning that the death toll may still rise until all debris is processed and all missing persons accounted. In the meantime, the NTSB has made clear a full final report may take up to two years, though a preliminary update is expected within about 30 days.
As investigation teams sift evidence and piece together what went so terribly wrong, the human cost already looms large — three lives lost in the air, communities shaken on the ground, and countless more looking for answers and solace.
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