UPS cargo plane crash lawsuits filed over fatal Louisville accident

A UPS cargo flight (MD‑11) crashed seconds after take‑off from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on November 4, 2025, killing 15 people and striking a nearby scrapyard. The National Transportation Safety Board confirmed the aircraft lost its left engine and pylon shortly after departure.

Fifteen civil lawsuits have been filed in Jefferson Circuit Court on behalf of more than 100 survivors, victims' families and affected businesses. The complaints name UPS, Boeing, GE, Allianz insurance, the maintenance provider and the estate of the deceased pilot, Capt. Richard Wartenburg, alleging they allowed the plane to fly in an unsafe, unairworthy condition.

Plaintiffs claim the defendants ignored known risks and failed to conduct frequent, rigorous inspections of the MD‑11’s pylon assemblies. UPS and Boeing have each issued statements expressing condolences and pledging cooperation with the NTSB investigation.