John Conover, here well known as drummer of Green River Band, was one of the first to respond to the disaster of the UPS plane crash last November in Louisville. (Photo source: KMM/John Conover)
Louisville, KY (By Katelynn M. Molesky / The Adair Progress) – On November 4, 2025, an unexpected tragedy unfolded that left many in shock: A cargo plane, UPS Airlines Flight 2976, departing from Louisville’s Muhammad Ali International Airport to Honolulu, crashed due to a catastrophic failure during takeoff. The devastating incident claimed the lives of 15 people, caused extensive destruction, and left a profound and lasting impact on those involved.
Just minutes after the crash, a team of courageous first responders raced to the scene, battling flames and doing everything they could to aid victims. One such individual was Columbia’s own John Conover, who has dedicated just over two decades to Louisville Metro EMS.
“Basically I just ran out of my office and got one of my co-workers to get the bus ready,” Conover recalls. “Then I went outside to get my car – and I just remember when I came around the backside of our building, the sky was just completely blacked out from all the smoke. I was probably one of the first people to get there within the first few minutes after the crash.”…