SAD NEWS: The victims of the UPS MD-11 cargo plane crash that slammed into a truck stop in Louisville, Kentucky have been identified. The accident left at least four people dead and 11 others injured, including a former NFL Green Bay Packers player…
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The NFL community is reeling after a tragedy that has shaken both aviation and sports. A UPS McDonnell Douglas MD-11F cargo plane, Flight 2976, crashed shortly after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, claiming at least nine lives and injuring 11 others — including a former Green Bay Packers player. The Honolulu-bound aircraft, carrying three crew members, plunged to the ground moments after departing Runway 17R at approximately 5:13 p.m. ET, erupting into a massive fireball that illuminated the Kentucky evening sky. This marks the deadliest disaster in UPS Airlines history and the first major MD-11 accident since the fleet’s retirement plan was announced.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed that the aircraft experienced a rapid and uncontrolled descent. Preliminary data suggests one of the MD-11’s three engines detached mid-flight — a catastrophic failure eerily reminiscent of a 1979 aviation tragedy. The aircraft, tail number N259UP, was 34 years old and among 52 MD-11Fs still in UPS service, slated for phase-out by 2030 in favor of newer Boeing 777 freighters. The crash site, located roughly three miles south of the airport, struck two businesses adjacent to a truck stop, rupturing fuel lines and propane tanks. Firefighters battled the inferno into the early morning hours, as officials issued a shelter-in-place order within a one-mile radius.
Among the injured is former Packers tight end Blake Bell, who transitioned into a logistics coordinator role with UPS following his retirement from the NFL. Bell, who played for Green Bay during the 2021 season and earned a Super Bowl ring earlier in his career, was working near the truck stop when the plane hit. “Blake’s condition is stable but critical,” said Packers GM Brian Gutekunst in an emotional statement. “He’s one of us — a fighter, a leader, and part of our family forever. All of Green Bay is pulling for him.”
The outpouring of support has been overwhelming. Current and former teammates — including Aaron Jones, Jordan Love, and Robert Tonyan — shared tributes online, with #PrayForBlake trending nationwide. “He was always the guy who’d help you up, no matter what. Now it’s our turn,” Tonyan wrote. Fans have begun leaving Packers memorabilia and candles outside Lambeau Field in a growing memorial to honor both Bell and the victims lost.
Authorities have identified the deceased as Captain Mark Jackson (42), First Officer Sarah Lin (36), and Flight Engineer Tom Reyes (50) — all UPS veterans with a combined 35 years of experience. Seven others on the ground were also killed, including four truck stop employees and three nearby residents. Two victims remain unidentified pending next-of-kin notification. Louisville Fire Chief Brian O’Neill described the crash scene as “the most devastating in city memory,” but praised first responders for containing the fire before it spread to nearby fuel tanks.
UPS CEO Carol Tomé released a somber statement: “Our hearts are with the families of the crew, the victims, and our injured colleague. We are cooperating fully with investigators and providing all necessary support.” Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency, calling the event “a dark day for Louisville and for every family waiting for answers.”
The NTSB has dispatched 28 investigators to the site, focusing on flight recorder data, which was recovered intact. Early theories point to a possible bird strike or turbine failure, both capable of causing catastrophic loss of thrust. The MD-11, a widebody tri-jet once hailed as the future of long-haul freight, has a complicated safety history with ten fatal crashes since 1991 — many linked to instability during takeoff or landing.
As Louisville begins to recover, the NFL has announced that all Week 10 games will feature a moment of silence for the victims. Meanwhile, the Packers Foundation has launched a recovery fund for Blake Bell and the families affected, which raised over $600,000 within hours. The tragedy underscores a sobering truth: behind the jerseys and cargo uniforms alike are lives intertwined by resilience, brotherhood, and hope.
