Louisville, KY — In a startling development, police investigators examining the wreckage of UPS Flight 2976 have confirmed the discovery of a hidden compartment containing “equipment not listed on the official cargo manifest,” according to two law enforcement sources briefed on the findings.
The compartment, found beneath a section of the aircraft’s cargo bay, reportedly held sealed metallic cases that were not logged in either the flight’s manifest or UPS’s electronic tracking database.
“This was not part of any registered shipment,” one investigator told reporters under condition of anonymity. “The packaging, labeling, and placement all indicate it was deliberately concealed.”
Authorities have not released details on the contents, but early forensic scans suggest the equipment could include sensitive electronic components or specialized surveillance hardware.
A federal aviation official said the discovery raises new questions about the motive behind the crash — and whether the deletion of the black box data seconds before impact was connected.
“It’s too early to draw conclusions,” the official added. “But when something ends up on a plane that no one claims, that’s a major red flag.”
Both UPS and federal investigators have declined to comment publicly, citing the ongoing probe. The FBI is reportedly coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security to determine whether the materials were legally authorized or smuggled aboard.
As the investigation continues, sources say a deeper examination of maintenance records and cargo handling footage is underway — with particular attention to who had access to the aircraft’s loading bay in the final hours before takeoff.
“Every minute of that timeline matters now,” said one official. “Someone knew what was inside that compartment.”
