A 15th person, Alain Rodriguez Colina, has died from injuries sustained in the Nov. 4 UPS Flight 2976 crash, bringing the confirmed death toll to 15. The NTSB's preliminary report says the aircraft's left engine and pylon separated shortly after takeoff, igniting a fire while the plane remained below about 30 feet and subsequently struck buildings beyond runway 17R. Investigators found fatigue cracks and fractures in the 34-year-old aircraft. The disaster killed three crew members and 11 people on the ground, with 23 more injured; the probe into the cause is ongoing.
15th Victim of UPS Flight 2976 Dies From Injuries Seven Weeks After Louisville Crash
HANDOUT/Courtesy of X account @LeviDean98/AFP via GettyThe site of the UPS plane crash on Nov. 4, 2025, in Kentucky
A 15th victim has died from injuries sustained in the fiery UPS plane crash that occurred shortly after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on Nov. 4, 2025, officials confirmed.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg and Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear announced that the deceased has been identified as Alain Rodriguez Colina, who died on Christmas Day. Both leaders paid tribute to the victims and called for continued support for the affected families.
“I’m sad to share some tough news,” Governor 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.”
Mayor Greenberg posted on X: “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.”
NTSB Preliminary Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said in a preliminary report that UPS Flight 2976 suffered catastrophic failure shortly after leaving the runway when the airplane's left engine and pylon separated from the wing. The left engine caught fire, traveled above the fuselage and then impacted the ground. According to the report, the aircraft never climbed higher than about 30 feet above the ground.
Investigators also noted several fatigue cracks and fractures in the 34-year-old aircraft discovered so far. The NTSB described the airplane's path beyond the runway: it cleared the blast fence but the left main landing gear struck the roof of a UPS warehouse at the airport's southern edge, then the airplane impacted a storage yard and two additional buildings — including a petroleum recycling facility — before being largely consumed by fire.
John Sommers II/UPI/ShutterstockFlames are seen after the UPS plane crash near Louisville, Ky., on Nov. 4, 2025.
Casualties, Injuries and Crew Experience
The crash killed all three crew members aboard and 11 people on the ground. An additional 23 people on the ground were injured. The agency released details of the pilots’ experience: the captain (pilot monitoring) had 8,614 total flight hours, including nearly 5,000 hours in the aircraft’s make and model; the first officer (pilot flying) had approximately 9,200 total hours, with about 944 hours in the accident airplane’s make and model.
Previously Identified Victims
Officials and media reports previously identified the victims as: 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. With the death of Alain Rodriguez Colina, the total confirmed fatalities now stands at 15.
The investigation by the NTSB is ongoing. Officials continue to examine mechanical evidence, maintenance records and other data to determine the sequence of events that led to the failure and subsequent crash.
Original reporting compiled from public statements and the NTSB preliminary report.
