Additional Coverage:
- Attorneys claim UPS cargo plane ‘should never have been airworthy’ in Louisville wrongful death suits (foxbusiness.com)
Families File Wrongful Death Lawsuits Following Deadly UPS Cargo Plane Crash in Louisville
LOUISVILLE, KY – The first wrongful death lawsuits stemming from the devastating November 4 UPS cargo plane crash in Louisville, Kentucky, were filed Wednesday by the families of victims. Attorneys representing the families allege that the MD-11 aircraft should never have been cleared for flight.
The plane, en route to Honolulu, Hawaii, with approximately 38,000 gallons of jet fuel, tragically crashed into an industrial park near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport. The incident claimed the lives of 14 individuals and injured 23 others when an engine reportedly detached and the aircraft erupted in flames shortly after takeoff.
Robert Clifford, senior partner of Clifford Law Offices, drew a stark parallel to the 1979 American Airlines crash in Chicago, where a left engine also detached post-takeoff, resulting in 273 fatalities. “When I heard that an engine had detached, I immediately thought of the 1979 crash in Chicago,” Clifford stated. “I worked on those very sad cases for years, and we got answers for families who deserved justice.”
Clifford suggests that preliminary expert analysis indicates the MD-11’s catastrophic engine-pylon separation could point to broader industry practices prioritizing profit over safety by extending component lifespans and inspection intervals. He further elaborated, “The recent NTSB report reveals an extreme similarity [to] the crash in Chicago.
What is new about this case is the age of the aircraft suggests that this plane was old, tired and well beyond its useful life, certainly triggering questions about profit over safety.” He emphasized the aviation industry’s need to learn from past mistakes and provide truth and full accountability to the grieving families.
The lawsuits name UPS, UPSAir, Boeing (the engine manufacturer and acquirer of original MD-11 maker McDonnell Douglas), and VT San Antonio Aerospace, Inc., which performed inspections and maintenance less than three weeks before the crash, as defendants, alleging negligence.
Bradley Cosgrove of Clifford Law Offices underscored the far-reaching impact of the tragedy. “When an engine detaches from a large cargo jet during takeoff, and the aircraft bursts into a fireball visible for miles, an entire community is affected,” Cosgrove said.
“Innocent lives are lost, leaving deep holes in families. Impacted survivors are left with injuries and lifelong scars, with their normal lives shattered by an explosion that many people compare to a bomb going off next door.
This tragedy is an unacceptable event that indicates a catastrophic failure across numerous safety systems.”
At a news conference on Wednesday, families of victims Trinadette “Trina” Chavez, 37, and Angela Anderson, 45, shared heartfelt memories and expressed their determination for justice.
Gabriela Hermosillo-Nunez, sister of Trinadette “Nena” Chavez, a mother of two who was working at nearby Grade A Auto Parts at the time of the crash, spoke movingly about her sister’s sacrifices. “Nena really was the heartbeat of this family,” Hermosillo-Nunez shared.
“Nena sacrificed everything for us when we were growing up… That’s why we’re prepared to do what’s necessary, with the support of our attorneys, to make sure that there is accountability and that Nena’s children are taken care of.”
Angela Anderson’s daughter, in a statement read by attorneys, remembered her mother as “loved by many,” expressing a desire to preserve her legacy and prevent similar tragedies.
Attorneys affirmed that the lawsuits aim to uncover answers, drive reform for prevention, and secure justice for the victims’ families. They asserted, “We believe that the failures that led to this crash were failures that could have been prevented, that should have been prevented, and this plane should never have been airworthy. This crash was preventable, and we hope to find all of the reasons why it was preventable.”
In the wake of the disaster, UPS grounded its entire MD-11 fleet, representing approximately 9% of its total aircraft. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) subsequently issued an emergency airworthiness directive, grounding all MD-11/MD-11F aircraft until comprehensive inspections were completed.