UPS Cargo Plane Crash Lawsuit Filed
Families affected by the tragic UPS cargo plane crash on November 4 in Louisville, Kentucky, now face a difficult path ahead. This incident claimed the lives of 14 people and left 23 injured, prompting a wrongful death lawsuit in Jefferson County Circuit Court.
The initial lawsuit was filed on behalf of the families of Angela Anderson, 45, and Trinadette “Trina” Chavez, 37. The allegations target UPS, UPS Airlines, Boeing, GE Aerospace, and VT San Antonio Aerospace, citing negligence. Additionally, a broader class-action suit has been initiated at the same time, encompassing more victims and companies linked to the crash.
A preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has revealed fatigue cracks in the left engine pylon, which reportedly caused the engine to detach shortly after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport. Following the incident, the FAA grounded all MD-11 cargo planes as a precautionary measure.
Two law firms—the Clifford Law Firm from Chicago and the Sam Aguiar Law Firm from Louisville—are spearheading this legal action. They have drawn parallels between this crash and the 1979 American Airlines DC-10 incident.
As the MD-11 aircraft took off, it ascended roughly 30 feet before the left engine exploded, igniting flames and forcing the plane to skid to a stop. At that time, it was en route to Honolulu, Hawaii.
Family representatives and their attorney held a press conference earlier today. Bradley Cosgrove, one of the attorneys, stated, “We want answers and accountability. The family is here for justice. This plane should not have been fit to fly that day.”
The NTSB has showcased dramatic footage showing the engine detaching from the aircraft, leading to significant engagement by investigators. They confirmed that the bearing linking the engine to the wing failed and displayed signs of overstress. Striking similarities have been noted between this incident and the earlier American Airlines Flight 191 crash.
Cosgrove highlighted that the signs of stress on the aircraft in the NTSB report indicate “long-standing deficiencies that should have been discovered and fixed” well before this aging aircraft was repeatedly put to the test by UPS.
In a poignant statement, Cosgrove remarked, “When an engine detaches from a large cargo jet during takeoff and the aircraft explodes into a fireball visible for miles, entire communities are affected. Innocent lives are lost and families are left with a deep hole.” Survivors may suffer lifelong injuries, and their lives are forever altered by an event many describe as akin to a bomb exploding nearby. This catastrophe unveils a worrying failure across numerous safety systems.
Furthermore, Cosgrove noted that all MD-11 aircraft remain grounded under FAA directives following the crash, which is anticipated to continue until 2026. This grounding is perceived by Anderson’s legal team as evidence of fundamental structural issues with the aircraft.
