bv. Steelers Rookie CB Takes Leave From Team After Family Member Seriously Injured in Kentucky UPS Plane Crash
Tragedy struck beyond the football field this week as the United States mourned one of the deadliest cargo plane crashes in recent memory. A UPS MD-11 aircraft, carrying over 38,000 gallons of fuel, burst into flames and crashed shortly after takeoff from Muhammad Ali International Airport in Louisville, Kentucky. Officials confirmed that the plane’s left engine detached mid-air, igniting a massive explosion that sent thick black smoke across the southern part of the city.
Authorities reported at least 14 fatalities, with several others injured. The crash damaged nearby industrial buildings and storage tanks, including a petroleum facility, before firefighters managed to contain the blaze hours later.
Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are now combing through wreckage, retrieving data from the flight recorders to determine the cause. Louisville’s airport briefly shut down, and Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency to mobilize rescue resources.
Among those impacted by the tragedy was the family of Pittsburgh Steelers rookie cornerback Donte Kent. According to team sources, Kent’s uncle, who works at an industrial facility in Louisville, Kentucky, was among those critically injured near the crash site. Deeply shaken, Kent immediately requested to take an indefinite leave of absence to return home and care for his uncle, whom he has described as “like a second father” and “the man who raised me when my dad couldn’t be there.”
Although Kent was eligible to be activated from injured reserve (IR) this week, the Steelers decided to keep him on IR to allow him extended time at home with his family during this difficult period.
Head coach Mike Tomlin addressed the heartbreaking situation in a statement after practice:
“There are moments when football doesn’t matter. He’s family comes first, and our prayers are with him and everyone affected by this tragedy. He’s exactly where he needs to be right now, with the people he loves.”
Teammates have also voiced their support online, sharing posts under the hashtag #PrayForDonte, while the Steelers organization has reportedly provided financial and emotional assistance to Kent’s family.
As Louisville continues to recover and federal investigators work to uncover the cause of the crash, the Steelers and fans across the league have rallied behind one of their own, proving that the bond of the football community goes far beyond the game itself.
“Family always comes first,” Tomlin added. “And when one of us hurts, the entire Steelers family hurts.”
