A Louisville resident and several local businesses filed a federal class-action lawsuit against United Parcel Service (UPS) and two major aerospace manufacturers following a deadly cargo plane crash that killed at least 13 people, including the UPS crew of three, and injured several others on November 3.
The crash of a UPS cargo jet at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport unleashed a fiery explosion, destroying nearby buildings and leaving residents struggling with smoke, soot, and chemical contamination.
A spokesperson for the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) described the crash in detail during a press conference following the crash.
The lawsuit, filed Nov. 7 in U.S. District Court, alleges that UPS, Boeing, and General Electric acted negligently and recklessly in operating and maintaining the aircraft.
Plaintiffs say the crash “upended the lives and livelihoods” of people and businesses in the surrounding community.
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The Louisville UPS crash lawsuit
The proposed class action suit — filed on behalf of a resident named Shakeara Ware and the businesses Triple D, Inc. and Ensey LLC — seeks damages for property destruction, chemical contamination, and personal injuries caused by the crash and subsequent explosions.
The complaint argues that the crash resulted from systemic failures in aircraft maintenance, inspection, and component quality control, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader. UPS is accused of operating a plane with known safety issues, while Boeing and GE are charged with design and manufacturing defects.
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The crash occurred shortly before 5:15 p.m., when UPS Flight 2976, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11, lost its left engine during takeoff. The aircraft burst into flames, igniting 220,000 pounds of jet fuel and setting off multiple secondary explosions that leveled nearby buildings and scorched a section of the airport’s industrial corridor.
At the press briefing, NTSB spokesperson Todd Inman confirmed that airport surveillance footage showed the left engine detaching from the wing moments after liftoff. Investigators are examining the plane’s maintenance history and the performance of its GE CF6 engines, which have been involved in previous fatal crashes.
UPS crash lawsuit details:
- Filed: Nov. 7 in U.S. District Court, Western District of Kentucky
- Defendants: United Parcel Service Inc., The Boeing Company, General Electric Company
- Aircraft: McDonnell Douglas MD-11 (built 1991, purchased by UPS in 2006)
- Incident: Engine separation during takeoff, causing explosion and fire
- Plaintiffs: Shakeara Ware (resident), Triple D, Inc. and Ensey Properties LLC (businesses)
- Claims: Negligence, product defect, and failure to maintain safe equipment
- Damages sought: Unspecified compensatory and punitive damages; jury trial requested
The lawsuit also cites the aircraft’s safety record — the MD-11 has the second-worst crash history among commercial aircraft still in service — and points to prior issues discovered during recent maintenance. (Only the Boeing 737 has a worse safety record.)
The jet reportedly underwent six weeks of repairs in September and October, including fixes for cracks and corrosion in its fuselage and fuel tank, per the Lexington Herald-Ledger.
A pattern of safety failures
“It is probably the worst I have ever heard of in turbojet history,” Aviation Expert John Nance said to an ABC News affiliate about the Louisville UPS crash.
The crash may have implications beyond aviation safety. Corporate liability from large-scale accidents can carry heavy operational, legal, and reputational costs — especially for logistics and manufacturing firms already under scrutiny for equipment reliability.
Previous MD-11 crashes:
- September 2, 1998: Swissair Flight 111 crashed into the Atlantic Ocean en route from New York to Geneva, killing all 229 onboard.
Source: BBC - August 22, 1999: China Airlines Flight 642 landed in Hong Kong amid high winds, flipped on the runway and caught fire; three people died.
Source: CNN - March 23, 2009: FedEx Express Flight 80 landed in Japan during 74-mph winds and crashed, killing the two crew members.
Source: Reuters
Aviation recalls and defect cases often span multiple defendants, particularly when engine manufacturers, airframe builders, and carriers share maintenance responsibilities.
Analysts say that large logistics companies like UPS face heightened exposure because of aging aircraft fleets and global operations that depend on legacy platforms such as the MD-11.
Ongoing NTSB and FAA investigations
The NTSB and FAA are leading the investigation into the Louisville crash, focusing on the detached engine and possible maintenance irregularities. Boeing, GE, and UPS have all stated they are cooperating with federal investigators.
Officials are still searching for several missing individuals from nearby businesses destroyed in the explosion.
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Residents near the crash site have reported ongoing air-quality issues and property damage from chemical residue. Local environmental teams are testing for contamination and advising affected residents to document damage for insurance and litigation purposes.
Plaintiffs in the class action have requested a jury trial and seek compensation for health impacts, business losses, and emotional distress.
The lawsuit highlights how one mechanical failure can cascade into massive corporate and community fallout. With three Fortune 500 companies named as defendants, the case could become one of the largest civil actions tied to an aviation disaster in recent years.
As investigations continue, the outcome could shape future standards for aircraft maintenance accountability — and underscore how safety lapses can quickly evolve into financial and reputational crises for major brands.
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