Frame-by-frame images of engine separating during deadly plane crash released

November 20, 2025 at 11:59 PM•2 min read•9news.com.au

Shocking NTSB images expose the catastrophic failure that doomed a UPS MD-11F.

Key Points

1NTSB report details catastrophic engine separation: A critical engine mount failed on UPS flight 2976's MD-11F, causing the left engine to detach shortly after takeoff from Louisville.
2Fatigue cracks found in critical hardware: Investigators identified fatigue cracks and over-stressing in the structural fittings (lugs) that secured the engine pylon to the wing.
3FAA grounds MD-11/MD-11F fleet: The US Federal Aviation Administration mandated thorough inspections for all MD-11 and MD-11F aircraft following the incident.
4Crash linked to 1979 DC-10 disaster: The NTSB drew parallels to American Airlines Flight 191, a 1979 DC-10 crash also involving engine and pylon separation during takeoff.

The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released a preliminary report detailing the catastrophic engine separation that occurred on UPS flight 2976, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11F, shortly after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport. The report includes frame-by-frame images showing the left engine detaching from the wing, igniting a fireball, and leading to the deadly crash that killed the three pilots and 11 people on the ground.

Investigators recovered structural fittings, known as lugs, which secured the engine pylon to the wing. These fittings exhibited clear signs of fatigue cracking and over-stressing, indicating a critical structural failure. The aircraft, a 34-year-old freighter, failed to climb beyond nine meters before rolling left and crashing, a sequence corroborated by witness accounts from the control tower.

In response to the incident, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) immediately grounded all MD-11 and MD-11F aircraft, mandating thorough inspections across the fleet. UPS, which operates 26 other MD-11s, is fully cooperating with the investigation. The NTSB is also reviewing the aircraft's maintenance records, including a six-week period when the jet was out of service for repairs in San Antonio.

The NTSB drew a rare parallel to the 1979 American Airlines Flight 191 crash, involving a McDonnell Douglas DC-10, where an engine and pylon assembly also separated during takeoff. This comparison underscores the severity and potential systemic implications of the current findings. Both UPS and Boeing, which acquired McDonnell Douglas, have issued statements affirming their support for the ongoing investigation, with a final NTSB report expected within 18 to 24 months.