Friday, January 16, 2026- New details from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are intensifying scrutiny of the UPS cargo plane crash in Louisville, Kentucky, after investigators confirmed the crucial engine-mount part that broke during last year’s deadly accident had failed on at least four other aircraft previously.
The aircraft, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 freighter, lost its left engine shortly after takeoff, killing all three crew members and 12 people on the ground. The revelation that this same component had multiple past failures sharply raises questions about risk assessments and oversight in aviation safety.
Records show that Boeing, which now supports the aging MD-11 design originally made by McDonnell Douglas, documented those four earlier failures in a 2011 service bulletin but did not designate the issue as a “safety of flight” threat or mandate corrective action. At the time, operators were advised to carry out periodic inspections rather than implement an immediate fix.
The bulletin recommended visual checks every five years and mentioned a redesigned bearing, but no mandatory regulatory directive followed. Critics argue this response may have left a dangerous vulnerability unaddressed.
The crash has since prompted the grounding of remaining MD-11 and related DC-10 cargo jets, while the latest findings are fueling urgent calls to reevaluate inspection standards for aging aircraft. Investigators also identified cracks in the engine mount that were not caught during routine maintenance, raising concerns about whether current practices are sufficient for older fleets still in service. With the NTSB’s final report still pending, pressure is mounting for stronger safety requirements to prevent similar tragedies.
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