UPS names 3 pilots killed in Louisville cargo plane crash that left at least 12 people dead
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UPS has revealed the identities of the flight crew who tragically lost their lives in a plane crash at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) in Kentucky on Tuesday. The crash, which took place on a fiery note, resulted in the deaths of 12 individuals and left nearly a dozen more injured.

Flight 2976, operated by UPS, carried three pilots who were identified as Capt. Richard Wartenberg, 1st Officer Lee Truitt, and International Relief Officer Capt. Dana Diamond. This information was shared by Nando Cesarone, the executive vice president of UPS Airlines.

In a statement shared on X, Cesarone expressed the profound sadness felt by the company: “Words can’t express the sorrow we feel over the heartbreaking Flight 2976 accident. Our hearts go out to every UPSer who has been impacted and all in our Louisville community—supporting you and ensuring you receive the care and resources you need is our priority.”

The ill-fated UPS cargo plane, which was carrying approximately 38,000 gallons of fuel, was scheduled to fly to Hawaii. However, shortly after its departure around 5:15 p.m. ET, the aircraft crashed into the Kentucky Petroleum Recycling building, as reported by Governor Andy Beshear.

J. Todd Inman

During a news conference at the Louisville Regional Airport Authority, J. Todd Inman from the NTSB addressed reporters’ questions about the incident. The conference took place at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on Wednesday in Louisville, Kentucky.

At the time of the disaster, the oil recycling company had 29 above-ground storage tanks, containing about 226,000 gallons of used motor oil and 37,000 gallons of oil-water-antifreeze mix, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

EPA on-scene coordinators confirmed several of the large, above-ground storage tanks at Kentucky Petroleum Recycling broke open and fell over. The facility remains closed while the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigates.

Preliminary flight data indicates the aircraft’s last recorded elevation was 475 feet, and it was traveling at 183 knots at the time of the crash, according to NTSB officials. The EPA confirmed there was no hazardous material cargo onboard the aircraft.

UPS jets are parked at the Worldport package sorting complex at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, in Louisville, Ky.

UPS jets are parked at the Worldport package sorting complex at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, Thursday, in Louisville, Ky.  (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

At least 12 people are dead, including the three crew members onboard and a young child, and 11 others on the ground were injured, Beshear said. Others are still unaccounted for.

“This continues to be an incredibly sad time for our entire UPS family, and as our CEO, Carol Tomé reminded us: ‘United, we are strong,’” Cesarone wrote. “We extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of our colleagues, and to the loved ones of those in the Louisville community.”

Though the cause of the crash has not yet been released, NTSB officials said Wednesday the left engine detached from the plane and was found on the airfield.

On Thursday, the NTSB confirmed data was successfully recovered from the aircraft’s cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder, commonly known as the “black box,” at a Washington, D.C. lab.

NTSB officials on Thursday said the plane was in San Antonio, Texas, for six weeks prior to the crash, and that it may have been used as a replacement shortly before take-off due to maintenance issues with the originally scheduled aircraft.

The ATC tower is seen while smoke rises from the crash site of UPS Flight 2976 near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, in Louisville, Ky.

The ATC tower is seen while smoke rises from the crash site of UPS Flight 2976 near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on Wednesday, in Louisville, Ky.  (AP Photo/Jon Cherry)

The EPA is working closely with state and local agencies, along with UPS, to clean up oil released into nearby streams that flow into the Salt and Ohio rivers.

EPA officials said the agency will remain on site to ensure clean air, land and water for nearby residents.

The NTSB confirmed the FBI is assisting with the investigation “under a longstanding Interagency agreement.”

The Louisville airport is home to UPS Worldport, a global hub for the shipping company’s air cargo operations and its largest package-handling facility worldwide.

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