Archive · 7 Nov 2025
UPS Identifies Crew Lost in Louisville MD-11 Crash
A big UPS delivery airplane crashed soon after taking off from an airport in Louisville.
The plane, carrying packages and a lot of fuel, went down only a short distance from the runway.
Sadly, the three pilots on board, Captain Richard Wartenberg, First Officer Lee Truitt, and Captain Dana Diamond, all passed away.
Investigators believe that one of the plane's engines fell off right after takeoff.
This might have caused the plane to lose power and catch fire.
Firefighters responded to the intense blaze because the plane was carrying so much fuel.
Experts have found the plane's 'black boxes,' which record important flight information, and are working to understand exactly what went wrong.
The company UPS is very sad about losing its employees and is supporting everyone affected by this accident.
Three UPS crew members, identified as Captain Richard Wartenberg, First Officer Lee Truitt, and Captain Dana Diamond, died in a plane crash.
The UPS MD-11 cargo plane, Flight 2976, crashed shortly after takeoff from Louisville, Kentucky, en route to Honolulu.
Preliminary reports indicate that one of the aircraft's engines separated during takeoff, contributing to the crash.
The NTSB and FAA have launched an investigation, recovering the flight's black boxes despite heat damage.
The plane was carrying approximately 38,000 gallons of fuel, contributing to the intensity of the resulting fire.
- Who
- Three UPS crew members (Captain Richard Wartenberg, First Officer Lee Truitt, Captain Dana Diamond), National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), UPS executives (CEO Carol Tom), Louisville fire chief Brian O’Neill.
- What
- A UPS MD-11 cargo plane crashed shortly after takeoff, resulting in the deaths of the three crew members and significant damage. The crash is under investigation.
- When
- Tuesday, November 4, around 5:15 pm local time.
- Where
- South of Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Louisville, Kentucky.
- Why
- Preliminary indications suggest the left engine separated during takeoff, possibly leading to ingestion into another engine, loss of lift, and a subsequent fire. The NTSB and FAA are investigating.
Official Information and Investigation
Witness and Preliminary Reports
Cause of the Crash
Official Information and Investigation
The NTSB is investigating, with preliminary findings indicating the left engine separated from the aircraft during takeoff. Experts are confident in retrieving data from the damaged black boxes to determine the cause.
Witness and Preliminary Reports
Preliminary reports suggest the separated left engine may have been ingested by another engine, causing the plane to lose lift and catch fire. The plane was carrying a significant amount of fuel and packages, contributing to the intensity of the fire.
Victim Count
Official Information and Investigation
UPS has identified the three crew members killed: Captain Richard Wartenberg, First Officer Lee Truitt, and International Relief Officer Captain Dana Diamond.
Witness and Preliminary Reports
Officials stated that at least 12 people were killed and more than a dozen injured, including those on the ground. The article focuses on the identified crew but implies a larger casualty count.
- Aircraft Type
- McDonnell Douglas MD-11 cargo aircraft
- Flight Number
- UPS Flight 2976
- Identified Crew
- Captain Richard Wartenberg, First Officer Lee Truitt, Captain Dana Diamond
- Destination
- Honolulu, Hawaii
- Time of Crash
- Tuesday, November 4, around 5:15 pm local time
- Altitude Reached
- 175 feet
- Distance from Airport
- About three miles south of Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport
- Fuel Load
- Approximately 38,000 gallons
Sources
Kentucky UPS plane crash leaves 12 dead; officials warn final toll may rise as rescue and recovery continue
Kentucky UPS plane crash: Black box found from wreckage, toll rises — What we know about the aircraft, investigation
UPS cargo plane crash: 3 employees of Louisville facility missing; owner calls scene ‘hell’s fury’
Vigil planned in Kentucky to share sorrow over UPS plane crash that killed at least 12
