A 15th person has died from injuries tied to the devastating UPS cargo plane crash that occurred on Nov. 4, 2025, shortly after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear confirmed the death, identifying the victim as Alain Rodriguez Colina, who died on Christmas Day.
“I’m sad to share some tough news,” Beshear wrote on X. “Today, we lost Alain Rodriguez Colina due to his injuries from the UPS plane crash, bringing our total loss to 15. Let’s pray for these families today and in the days, months and years to come so they know they are not alone and they are loved.”
Greenberg echoed the announcement in his own post: “It is with great sadness that I just learned Alain Rodriguez Colina has passed. Alain is the 15th victim of the UPS Flight 2976 accident. He suffered severe injuries at the time of the crash and passed earlier this Christmas Day. May Alain’s memory be a blessing.”
What investigators say happened
According to a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board, UPS Flight 2976 suffered a catastrophic failure moments after takeoff when the aircraft’s left engine and pylon separated from the wing, sparking a fire. The NTSB said the engine ignited as it moved above the fuselage before striking the ground.
The report also stated the plane never climbed higher than about 30 feet.
Investigators said the aircraft cleared the blast fence beyond the end of runway 17R, but the left main landing gear struck the roof of a UPS Supply Chain Solutions warehouse at the southern edge of the airport. The plane then crashed into a storage yard and hit two more buildings, including a petroleum recycling facility, before being largely consumed by fire.
The agency has also reported finding fatigue cracks and fractures on the 34-year-old aircraft.
Victims and injuries
The crash killed all three crew members on board and 11 people on the ground, with 23 additional people on the ground injured, officials said.
Those previously identified among the victims include: Capt. Dana Diamond, 62; Capt. Richard Wartenberg, 57; First Officer Lee Truitt, 45; Angela Anderson, 45; Carlos Fernandez, 52; Trinadette “Trina” Chavez, 37; Tony Crain, 65; John Loucks, 52; John Spray, 45; Matthew Sweets, 37; Ella Petty Whorton, 31; Megan Washburn, 35; Louisnes Fedon, 47; and Fedon’s 3-year-old granddaughter Kimberly Asa.
