New footage shows UPS plane missing engine before deadly Kentucky crash

Newly released footage has revealed that a UPS cargo plane was missing its left engine moments before it crashed at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky on 4 November 2025, killing at least 12 people.

Authorities said the left engine had detached from the aircraft during takeoff and was later found on the runway.

The plane, which was carrying thousands of gallons of fuel for a long-distance flight to Hawaii, crashed into nearby businesses in a massive explosion shortly after leaving the ground.

Fatal crash and ongoing investigation

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg confirmed that the dead included the aircraft’s three crew members and nine others who have not yet been identified.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said one of the victims is believed to be a young child, describing the tragedy as “all the harder” to bear.

Two individuals remain hospitalized in critical condition.

The local coroner’s office is working to identify the victims, though Beshear said the process would be challenging due to the condition of the remains.

A “very large field of debris” remains at the crash site, Greenberg said, as rescue teams continue searching for any additional victims.

Officials describe ‘devastating scene’

Beshear, Greenberg, and Congressman Morgan McGarvey visited the scene on Wednesday.

McGarvey described the aftermath as “like a scene out of a Terminator movie,” adding, “The smells, the sights — these are things that are not going to escape us when we close our eyes tonight.”

Greenberg said earlier that he expected the death toll to rise, calling the incident one of the most tragic events the city has faced.

“There are no words I can provide to any family members still waiting for news,” he said. 

Engine separation confirmed by investigators

At a press briefing, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed that both of the plane’s black boxes have been recovered and sent to Washington, D.C., for analysis.

NTSB board member Todd Inman said preliminary findings indicate the plane’s left engine detached after “a large plume of fire” erupted from the left wing during takeoff.

“The plane lifted off and gained enough altitude to clear the fence at the end of runway 17R. Shortly after clearing that fence, it made impact with structures and terrain off airport property,” Inman said.

Businesses hit by crash

Governor Beshear said two nearby businesses were affected by the crash — Kentucky Petroleum Recycling, which appeared to have been “hit pretty directly,” and Grade A Auto Parts, where two employees remain unaccounted for.

The investigation into what caused the engine failure and subsequent crash remains ongoing.