Louisville UPS cargo plane crash death toll rises to 15
The death toll from the Louisville UPS cargo plane crash has risen to 15 after Alain Rodriguez Colina, a Grade A Auto Parts employee hired in April 2023, died on Christmas Day from injuries sustained when UPS Flight 2976, an MD-11, climbed only about 30 feet before its left engine separated and the aircraft crashed into Grade A Auto Parts and a nearby petroleum recycling facility — Mayor Craig Greenberg confirmed Colina’s death and Gov. Andy Beshear urged prayers. Preliminary NTSB findings say tiny cracks around boltholes in the left pylon’s aft mount and a bracket that had cracked in two places allowed the engine to detach and catch fire, and the FAA has issued a temporary ban on MD-11s, which make up nearly 10% of UPS’s air cargo fleet.
📌 Key Facts
- The death toll from the Louisville UPS cargo plane crash rose to 15 with the 15th victim identified as Alain Rodriguez Colina, an employee of Grade A Auto Parts, who died on Christmas Day after more than seven weeks in critical condition.
- Colina was hired in April 2023 and had been recognized by his employer for customer service.
- The aircraft was UPS Flight 2976, an MD-11, whose left engine separated from the wing during takeoff.
- NTSB preliminary findings say tiny cracks around boltholes in the left pylon’s aft mount grew over time, causing a bracket meant to hold the engine to crack and the left engine to detach, producing flames.
- The plane climbed only to about 30 feet before crashing into Grade A Auto Parts and a nearby petroleum recycling facility.
- Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg publicly confirmed Colina’s death on X, and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear urged prayers for the victims' families.
- The FAA has issued a temporary grounding of MD-11 aircraft, which make up nearly 10% of UPS’s air cargo fleet.
📊 Relevant Data
According to the 2020 Census, ZIP code 40219 in Louisville, KY, where the UPS plane crash occurred, has a population that is 46.3% White, 30.6% Black, 16.5% Hispanic, 2.6% Asian, and 3.9% two or more races.
40219 - Profile data — Census Reporter
Compared to Louisville city's overall demographics (approximately 53% White, 33% Black, 6% Hispanic), ZIP code 40219 has a lower White population percentage and higher Black and Hispanic percentages.
Louisville, KY Demographics - Map of Population by Race — Census Dots
The FAA issued Airworthiness Directive 95-23-07 for McDonnell Douglas MD-11 series airplanes, requiring repetitive inspections of the pylon upper spar angles for cracking and repair if necessary.
airworthiness directives final rules: 95-23-07 — FAA Dynamic Regulatory System
Cargo planes were involved in 16 of 29 fatal aviation crashes in North America between 2005 and 2025, indicating a higher involvement in fatal accidents compared to their proportion of operations.
Cargo jets face higher crash rates than passenger planes — Shipping Gazette
As of December 2025, there have been 70 aviation accidents and incidents worldwide resulting in at least 12 ground fatalities, with the UPS Louisville crash adding to rare US cases in recent years.
List of aircraft accidents and incidents by number of ground fatalities — Wikipedia
📰 Sources (3)
- Identifies the 15th victim as Alain Rodriguez Colina and notes he died on Christmas Day after more than seven weeks in critical condition.
- Attributes public confirmation of his death to Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg, including his statement on X noting Colina as the 15th victim.
- Includes Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear’s public reaction urging prayers for the families.
- Restates NTSB preliminary findings that tiny cracks around boltholes in the left pylon’s aft mount grew over time until failure under normal stress allowed the engine to detach.
- Identifies the 15th victim as Alain Rodriguez Colina, an employee of Grade A Auto Parts, and notes he died on Christmas Day from injuries sustained in the crash.
- Specifies that UPS Flight 2976’s MD-11 left engine separated from the wing during takeoff because a bracket meant to hold the engine in place had cracked in two places, leading to flames.
- Clarifies that the plane climbed only to about 30 feet before crashing into Grade A Auto Parts and a nearby petroleum recycling facility.
- Reports that the FAA has issued a temporary ban on flying MD-11 aircraft, which make up nearly 10% of UPS’s air cargo fleet.
- Adds biographical detail on Colina, including his April 2023 hire date and his recognition by the company for customer service.