By Harshit
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, November 9, 2025 — 6:45 PM CST
The smoke has thinned over the scorched neighborhood just beyond Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, but the grief has not. Families are still waiting for answers and, in some cases, waiting for the remains of missing loved ones, after a UPS McDonnell Douglas MD-11 cargo jet crashed into a residential and industrial area on Tuesday, killing at least 14 people and setting off a firestorm that ripped through homes and businesses.
Nine people were initially reported missing following the crash. Officials now say 13 of the missing have been located, while one victim who was rescued alive died in the hospital on Saturday. Search teams are still carefully examining the wreckage of the Grade A Auto Parts facility, where three employees were working when the plane slammed into the building.
“It looked like hell’s fury had landed here,” said Sean Garber, the owner of the auto parts shop, describing a video he watched of the moment flames engulfed the structure. “They were running, screaming. And then everything was fire.”
The three crew members aboard the UPS flight — Capt. Richard Wartenberg, First Officer Lee Truitt, and International Relief Officer Capt. Dana Diamond — were also killed.
Engine and Pylon Detached Before Crash, Federal Authorities Say
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed the cargo plane experienced a catastrophic failure seconds after takeoff. The left engine and the pylon that attaches it to the wing detached as the aircraft lifted from the runway, NTSB investigator Todd Inman said.
The engine was later found separate from the main crash site, lying intact enough to offer valuable clues.
“That’s a huge clue,” said CNN aviation analyst Mary Schiavo, a former Department of Transportation Inspector General. “This suggests a likely uncontained engine failure, which means pieces came apart with such force they damaged surrounding components.”
Investigators are analyzing:
- The detached engine and its internal components
- Fuel tank rupture in the wing
- Maintenance logs and inspection records
- Cockpit voice and flight data recorder audio, which has already been recovered
The cargo jet had just undergone heavy maintenance in San Antonio, according to investigators. The NTSB said the crew completed standard preflight checks and the takeoff initially appeared routine.
But according to updated data, the aircraft reached only about 100 feet of altitude before it banked, dropped, and exploded.
FAA Grounds MD-11 and MD-11F Fleets Nationwide
In an emergency directive issued Saturday, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounded all MD-11 and MD-11F aircraft operating in the United States until they undergo detailed inspections.
The FAA’s order cites Tuesday’s crash directly:
“The left-hand engine and pylon detached from the airplane during takeoff. This unsafe condition is likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.”
The move affects only cargo carriers, as the MD-11 was retired from U.S. passenger service years ago. But it remains a backbone aircraft for UPS and FedEx, the only two major American operators of the type.
Both companies announced immediately Saturday they had already grounded their fleets.
“Out of an abundance of caution and in the interest of safety, we have temporarily grounded all MD-11 aircraft,” UPS said in a statement.
FedEx echoed the same, saying it would conduct a full safety review.
The aircraft that crashed was 34 years old, a typical age for cargo aircraft, and there is no initial evidence that age alone was a factor.
Lawsuit Filed Against UPS, Boeing, and General Electric
A lawsuit has now been filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky on behalf of residents and business owners affected by the crash. The suit names:
- UPS
- Boeing, which merged with McDonnell Douglas in 1997
- General Electric, manufacturer of the plane’s CF6 engines
The complaint alleges negligence and recklessness and claims the crash was preventable.
“This tragedy has shattered lives,” attorneys Mike Morgan, Rene Rocha, and Tanner Shultz said. “We will stop at nothing to pursue justice.”
The suit also cites the MD-11’s troubled historical safety record, noting several previous fatal crashes, including a 2009 FedEx MD-11 accident in Tokyo.
GE did not respond to inquiries. Boeing said it will not comment on active litigation but expressed condolences.
UPS said its “heartfelt thoughts are with everyone affected,” but also declined to comment on pending litigation.
A Community in Mourning
The crash site resembles the aftermath of a wildfire: twisted steel beams, scorched pavement, the blackened frames of cars and buildings.
In nearby neighborhoods, residents described hearing a sound “like the sky tearing open.”
The fireball that followed was visible for miles.
At a vigil held Friday evening in Louisville’s Great Lawn, families of victims embraced, prayed, and stood in silence.
Among those still waiting for DNA confirmation is the family of John Loucks, 52, who worked on and off at the auto facility for years.
“It’s scary,” said his nephew Justin Loucks. “Did he die on impact? Was he trapped? We don’t know.”
Authorities have told families DNA matches could take weeks.
The Search for Answers Will Take Time
The NTSB says a preliminary report will be released within 30 days, but a full investigation could take 18 to 24 months.
The central questions investigators aim to answer:
- What caused the engine and pylon to detach?
- Was there a structural failure, maintenance error, or part defect?
- Could the same failure happen again on other MD-11 aircraft?
For now, the only certainty is loss.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said the community is in collective mourning:
“This is a tragedy that struck at the heart of our city. We will grieve, we will support one another, and we will seek the truth.”