Ky. Sen. Mitch McConnell makes floor speech on Louisville plane crash, urges federal aid

Piper Hansen, Lexington Herald-Leader on Nov 5, 2025

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Kentucky’s longtime Sen. Mitch McConnell wants his neighbors to know representatives in Washington are going to ensure federal resources make it to the site of a fatal plane crash in his hometown of Louisville.

At least 12 people are dead and more injured when a cargo plane crashed Tuesday evening at the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport while departing for Hawaii.

On the Senate floor Nov. 5, less than 24 hours after the crash, McConnell told his colleagues he spoke to Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg Wednesday and is in close contact with the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board.

The Senate was meeting Wednesday to cast a vote that didn’t happen on ending what’s now the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.

McConnell’s senate colleague, Sen. Rand Paul, and other members of Kentucky’s congressional delegation, including Reps. Brett Guthrie, Morgan McGarvey and Andy Barr, said across social media platforms they were monitoring the situation.

McConnell said in the Senate people in Jefferson County need thoughts and prayers as search and rescue operations continue and those injured recover.

“There’s a lot of grief welling up right now in Kentucky,” McConnell said. “This would be true even in the case of a single life lost. But as local first responders, state officials, and federal investigators continue their work today, I’d like to help our colleagues understand what makes this tragedy such a gut punch in a place like Louisville.

“During the day, Louisville International hums with thousands of passengers from across the country. But around the clock, Louisville is also a hub for global shipping and logistics,” McConnell continued. “Business supplies, consumer goods, Christmas gifts ... if it’s going somewhere in short order, there’s a good chance it’s passing through UPS Worldport in Louisville.

“... Louisville is home to logistics experts, warehouse workers, aircraft crew and maintainers,” he said. “They take pride in their work, and their community takes pride in them. That’s why this crash cuts so deep. It’s about all of us. Today, Jefferson County schools and many local businesses are closed. Neighbors are mourning neighbors.

“So today will be a tough day in the Commonwealth,” McConnell said. “But the people of Louisville are grateful for the swift, life-saving efforts of our first responders. ... They can trust in the prayers of their fellow Americans. And I want them to know that their representatives here in Washington are making sure that every federal resource they need is on the ground or headed that way soon.”

Worldport is one of the world’s largest automated packaging facilities. The area at the Louisville airport is roughly the size of 90 football fields, and approximately 2 million packages are processed on a normal day there.

The presence of the hub is a major draw for businesses looking to be close to the logistics and distribution services offered at Worldport.

The Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development and Louisville Metro Government estimate some 200 companies have relocated or expanded operations in the area because of Worldport, bringing more than 13,000 jobs and a $300 million annual payroll.

McGarvey, a Democrat who represents Louisville in the U.S. House of Representatives, said Tuesday night on X, formerly known as Twitter, he was praying for those impacted.

“I’m grateful for the bravery of our first responders as they continue their work throughout the night tonight to respond quickly and heroically to this horrific incident,” he said.

The representative joined Greenberg and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear at the scene of the crash Wednesday and gave an update during an afternoon news conference.

Paul, Barr and Guthrie all said on X they were monitoring the situation.

“Beth and I remain heartbroken by the loss of life that occurred in Louisville last night,” Guthrie said on X. “Our prayers are with the families grieving an unthinkable loss, those injured, and with our first responders who remain on scene working to investigate the cause of this terrible accident.”

On Wednesday, Beshear declared a state of emergency following the crash, which allows for access of state funds to go toward disaster, accident and weather relief efforts.

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