NTSB Cites Fatigue Cracks in UPS Plane Crash

Federal investigators have released preliminary findings into the November 4 crash of a UPS cargo plane at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky, revealing evidence of fatigue cracks in the left engine mount that contributed to the detachment of the engine during takeoff.

The Boeing MD-11 freighter, operating as UPS Flight 2976, lifted off from runway 17R but reached only about 30 feet before the left engine and pylon separated from the wing, igniting a fire that spread across the aircraft. The plane cleared the airport's blast fence but struck the roof of a nearby UPS Supply Chain Solutions warehouse with its left main landing gear. It then impacted a storage yard and two additional structures, including a petroleum recycling facility, before coming to rest and being largely consumed by flames. The incident left a debris trail approximately 3,000 feet long and resulted in 14 fatalities: three crew members aboard the aircraft and 11 people on the ground. Another 23 individuals were injured.

According to the National Transportation Safety Board's report, surveillance video from the airport captured the sequence of events, including frames showing the engine...