Trending Now - Investigation Underway Into UPS Cargo Plane Engine Failure Crash
WHO:
CNN - The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the crash.
CNN - UPS is involved as the operator of the aircraft.
CNN - The pilot’s union, the FAA, and Boeing are also participating in the investigation.
ABC News Business - Boeing is the manufacturer of the MD-11 aircraft.
WHAT:
The Seattle Times - Boeing and the FAA failed to understand the safety risk related to several reports of a part fracturing on the MD-11 cargo plane over the last two decades.
The Seattle Times - On 10 occasions between 2002 and 2022, Boeing received reports from MD-11 operators that the spherical bearing race had fractured.
The Seattle Times - Boeing had determined that previous reports of the spherical bearing race failing did not indicate a safety risk and did not mandate any action.
The Seattle Times - Boeing was aware of a bearing race failure in 2002 but incorrectly stated in 2007 that it was the first reported incident of this type.
The Seattle Times - NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy expressed concern about the potential for other components to be misclassified as not a safety issue.
The Seattle Times - Boeing brings about 4,000 continued operational safety reports to the FAA every year, with about half considered potential safety issues.
The Seattle Times - Boeing and the FAA are aligned about 90% of their decisions related to safety risks.
ABC News Business - The hearings will focus on why Boeing didn’t address the underlying flaw sooner.
CBS News US - The crew of the crashed jet had been reassigned to it after their original plane was taken out of service.
ABC News Business - The crash resulted in 15 fatalities, including three crew members on the plane and 23 people on the ground were injured.
CBS News US - The NTSB released new video showing the moment a left-side engine fell off a UPS cargo flight during takeoff before the plane crashed.
CNN - The NTSB will hold hearings over two days to investigate the crash of UPS flight 2976.
CNN - The NTSB's preliminary report indicated that the left jet engine separated from the wing and fell alongside the runway.
CNN - The MD-11 aircraft made up approximately 9% of UPS’ fleet at the time of the crash.
CNN - A final report from the NTSB is typically expected in 18 to 24 months after an accident.
CNN - The crash resulted in 15 fatalities, including three crew members on the plane and 23 people on the ground were injured.
CNN - The UPS freighter was a 34-year-old jet with three engines: two on the wings and one on the tail.
CNN - UPS announced it does not plan to fly its MD-11s any longer.
CNN - FedEx has already resumed some flights with repaired and inspected MD-11 aircraft.
CNN - A UPS McDonnell Douglas MD-11F cargo plane lost an engine and crashed after takeoff.
CNN - The crash resulted in 14 fatalities, including three crew members, and 23 injuries on the ground.
CNN - The NTSB hearing will question witnesses over two days to determine the cause of the crash.
CNN - The NTSB's preliminary report indicated that structural fittings that kept the left jet engine attached to the wing failed.
CNN - The plane crashed into a warehouse, storage yard, and petroleum recycling facility after losing the engine.
WHERE:
CNN - The crash occurred at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Louisville, Kentucky.
CNN - The wreckage spread for half a mile from the crash site.
WHEN:
CNN - A final report from the NTSB is typically expected in 2028 to 2029 after an accident.
CNN - The crash occurred on November 4 of the previous year.
CNN - The NTSB will hold hearings on Tuesday and Wednesday of the current week.
CNN - The FAA grounded all MD-11 planes in the United States shortly after the crash.
WHY:
ABC News Business - The hearings will focus on why Boeing didn’t address the underlying flaw sooner.
CNN - The investigation aims to determine why the engine detached and why Boeing did not address the underlying flaw sooner.
CNN - The pieces attaching the engine to the wing showed signs of fatigue cracking and over-stressing.
HOW:
The Seattle Times - Boeing and the FAA stated they would make different decisions if presented with all the information they have today.
The Seattle Times - Boeing is reviewing its spherical bearing and expects more recommendations to come.
CNN - Investigators will probe what information UPS was required to report to Boeing and the FAA, operational safety processes, and engine attachment designs.
CNN - Investigators will review all previous maintenance, including overhaul work done for six weeks in September and October in San Antonio, Texas.
CNN - The information from the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder will indicate what the pilots said and how they reacted to the troubled flight.
CNN - The NTSB analyzed airport surveillance video frame by frame to understand the sequence of events leading to the crash.
CNN - Boeing provided inspection and repair instructions for the MD-11 aircraft after the crash.
CNN - UPS grounded its MD-11 planes three days after the crash, and the FAA followed suit the next day.
(UPDATED May 20, 2026 08:06 UTC)
Boeing and the FAA have come under scrutiny for failing to recognize the safety risks associated with multiple reports of a part fracturing on the MD-11 cargo plane over the past two decades. Between 2002 and 2022, Boeing received ten reports of the spherical bearing race fracturing, yet they previously determined these incidents did not warrant any safety action. In light of this, Boeing is currently reviewing its spherical bearing and anticipates issuing more recommendations moving forward.
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(UPDATED May 20, 2026 04:19 UTC)
The upcoming hearings will examine why Boeing failed to address a critical flaw in their aircraft sooner, with a particular focus on the crew of the crashed jet, who had been reassigned after their original plane was taken out of service. Investigators will also look into what information UPS was obligated to report to Boeing and the FAA, as well as the operational safety processes and engine attachment designs involved. This thorough investigation aims to uncover the details surrounding the incident and ensure accountability in aviation safety.
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(UPDATED May 20, 2026 01:38 UTC)
A tragic plane crash has resulted in 15 fatalities, including three crew members, while 23 people on the ground were injured. New video released by the NTSB shows the moment a left-side engine fell off a UPS cargo flight during takeoff, leading to the disaster. Upcoming hearings will investigate why Boeing failed to address the underlying flaw in the aircraft sooner.
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(UPDATED May 19, 2026 23:21 UTC)
The NTSB will hold hearings over two days to investigate the crash of UPS flight 2976, with preliminary reports indicating that the left jet engine separated from the wing and fell alongside the runway. At the time of the crash, the MD-11 aircraft made up approximately 9% of UPS’ fleet, and investigators will review all previous maintenance, including overhaul work done for six weeks in September and October in San Antonio, Texas. A final report from the NTSB is typically expected in 18 to 24 months after an accident.
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(UPDATED May 19, 2026 19:36 UTC)
A tragic plane crash involving a 34-year-old UPS freighter has resulted in 15 fatalities, including three crew members, while 23 people on the ground sustained injuries. In response to the incident, UPS has announced it will no longer operate its MD-11 aircraft, while FedEx has already resumed some flights with their repaired and inspected MD-11s. The National Transportation Safety Board is expected to release a final report on the accident between 2028 and 2029, which will include insights from the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder to shed light on the pilots' actions during the flight.
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(UPDATED May 19, 2026 10:15 UTC)
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating a tragic crash involving a UPS McDonnell Douglas MD-11F cargo plane that lost an engine shortly after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, resulting in 14 fatalities, including three crew members, and 23 injuries on the ground. The investigation, which includes participation from the pilot’s union, the FAA, and Boeing, aims to determine why the engine detached and why underlying flaws were not addressed sooner, with preliminary findings indicating that structural fittings failed. NTSB hearings will take place over two days this week, where witnesses will be questioned as part of the effort to understand the sequence of events leading to the crash.