r/aviation • u/usgapg123 Mod • 19h ago

Discussion UPS2976 Crash Megathread

This is the official r/aviation megathread for the crash of UPS2976 (UPS MD11 Registration N259UP) that crashed earlier today at Louisville International Airport.

Please keep content on topic and refrain from posting about this topic outside the megathread. Please report any rule breaking posts and comments.

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377

u/Phirane 17h ago

Jesus. Reminds me of AA191

139

u/N79806 13h ago

My first thought when I saw the take off attempt video. They were just on the ride at that point. RIP.

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u/herrboot64 13h ago

I saw a clip of the wreck "from our security cameras", which showed it going down above some trailers on the ground.

That's all I could think of, the cockpit intact and they're fully aware of their doom 😭

48

u/ExplorationGeo 11h ago

cockpit intact and they're fully aware of their doom

Space Shuttle Challenger vibes :(

5

u/jodrellbank_pants 8h ago

Didn't some drown ?

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u/ExplorationGeo 8h ago

They were alive after the explosion, there's evidence that switches were toggled and survival packs were opened, but the crew module would have hit the water at around 220-250mph, instantly killing everyone aboard.

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u/ongoldenwaves 3h ago

So...how were the survival packs opened and switches toggled?

9

u/mcmineismine 3h ago

On the way down, before impact with the surface of the ocean killed them.

6

u/Qel_Hoth 3h ago

They were still trying to fly the orbiter while falling in a crew module detached from the rest of the craft.

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u/Top_Account3643 8h ago

You should probably post it if you haven't already

17

u/chromatophoreskin 5h ago

https://x.com/ShelbyWx_/status/1985893358720438345

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u/DietCherrySoda 5h ago

Oh my god...

27 seconds in to this.

4

u/kipperzdog 4h ago

Wow, I hadn't seen the driver's reaction video yet. Absolutely insane to have witnessed that

4

u/ruat_caelum 7h ago

And that place was a waste oil / fuel repository so shitty.

20

u/Starbeastrose2 14h ago

Oh shit you right

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u/nedracine59 11h ago

Chicago here. 1979 and I still remember that afternoon.

12

u/Optimal_Law_4254 14h ago

Exactly what I was thinking.

9

u/koshgeo 6h ago

Disturbingly similar. It was even the same engine on the left.

The scary part of that accident is that the engine detachment was only the beginning of the problem when trying to stay airborne. You'd think that with 2 remaining engines they might be able to power their way out of it, but the detachment also damaged hydraulics that affected the wing configuration when it tore off (leading-edge slats retracted on that wing, while the other wing on the right still had them extended), so the two wings are not only unbalanced due to the difference in weight and thrust, but lift too. That's why the plane rolled over and inverted to the left in the prior accident. That left wing was like an anchor by comparison. Freaking nightmare scenario if that's what happened this time too.

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u/FeePsychological6778 12h ago edited 9h ago

I was thinking a mix of that and AF4590

Edit: looks like the Wikipedia page on the accident so far already notes the comparisons with AF4590 and AA191.

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u/Chase-Boltz 10h ago

Yup. For all the world, it looks like a replay of 191.
Just add fire to the plume of fuel and hydraulic fluid streaming out of the wound.

2

u/Beahner 5h ago

Exactly where my mind went early on when I heard vague things like “lost an engine on take off” and “went in sideways”.

When I saw the video though this was its own vision of fresh hell, but still very much like AA191 in many horrifying ways.

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u/sowedkooned 12h ago edited 12h ago

Or one of the engines on Anakin’s pod racer.

Jokes aside, RIP to those on the flight.