Boeing issued a warning in 2011 regarding a critical part failure linked to engine mount securements that later contributed to a tragic UPS plane crash in 2025. This claim was highlighted in an exhaustive report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released on Wednesday.
The crash in November 2025 occurred shortly after takeoff from Louisville, Kentucky when the left engine detached from the aircraft, leading to the deaths of 15 individuals, including three pilots and 12 people on the ground.
The NTSB's report indicated that prior failures of this component had been documented, yet Boeing determined that these issues did not represent a direct threat to flight safety. This raises significant concerns regarding Boeing's judgment at the time of the 2011 warning, as it was determined that detailed inspections of this component would not occur for thousands more takeoffs and landings.
Before the crash, investigators also found alarming cracks in engine mount parts that had not been caught during routine maintenance inspections. This discrepancy has raised questions about the adequacy of the current maintenance protocols for aging aircraft.
This incident has ignited public discourse around airline safety standards, especially in light of past accidents involving similar aircraft models like the DC-10, which faced major overhauls following crashes attributed to structural failures.
The report from NTSB revealed that Boeing, UPS, and the FAA are currently limited in their ability to comment on the ongoing investigation, but all parties have expressed condolences to the families of the victims of this devastating crash.
The MD-11 aircraft involved had been in cargo service and had not operated commercially for years, with the model being phased out due to inefficiencies compared to newer aircraft. Following the UPS crash, all remaining MD-11s and a related fleet of DC-10s have since been grounded.
