UPS may have known about structural defects in its MD-11F cargo planes years before a fatal 2025 crash. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators revealed Boeing issued service letters regarding engine mount cracking in 2008 and 2011. UPS reviewed these warnings but determined no further action was necessary.
The investigation follows a November 2025 crash in Louisville, Kentucky, that killed 15 people. The accident occurred after the aircraft's left engine detached during takeoff. Fatalities included individuals on the aircraft and on the ground. UPS has since retired its entire fleet of MD-11 aircraft.