UPS MD-11 Louisville Crash: Widow Sues Boeing and GE

The widow of a Caldwell pilot killed in last November’s fatal UPS cargo crash in Louisville has filed the first wrongful death lawsuit against aircraft manufacturer Boeing, engine maker General Electric, and maintenance provider VT San Antonio Aerospace.

The complaint, filed Wednesday in Jefferson County Circuit Court, stems from the November 2025 crash of UPS Flight 2976, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11F freighter that went down shortly after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport. The aircraft was bound for Honolulu when its left engine and pylon separated from the wing seconds after departure, according to flight data cited in the lawsuit.

The aircraft remained airborne for just 37 seconds and did not climb above 100 feet before crashing into an industrial area south of the airport. The crash killed three crew members and 12 people on the ground, marking the deadliest accident in UPS history.

Dana Justin Diamond, who served as the international relief officer on the flight, had more than 37 years of experience with UPS and was one of the carrier’s most senior MD-11 pilots. The lawsuit alleges that the engine separation was the result of corporate negligence involving aircraft design, manufacturing and maintenance.

Attorneys representing Diamond’s widow argue that an engine detaching moments after takeoff points to systemic failures rather than an unforeseeable accident. The aircraft was powered by CF6 engines manufactured by General Electric and had undergone maintenance work in the weeks prior to the crash, according to court filings.

The suit alleges wrongful death, negligence, loss of consortium and related damages, and seeks punitive damages along with a jury trial. It claims the defendants failed to ensure the structural integrity and airworthiness of the engine pylon assembly and associated components.

Diamond was widely respected within the aviation community for his focus on safety and emergency preparedness. In addition to his flying career, he previously served in volunteer fire services and held leadership roles within the Independent Pilots Association’s Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Committee.

Federal investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the engine separation. The lawsuit is expected to intensify scrutiny of MD-11 freighter operations and maintenance oversight as legal proceedings move forward.

The case, styled Donna Lynn Diamond v. VT San Antonio Aerospace Inc. et al., is the first lawsuit filed by a crew member’s family related to the UPS Flight 2976 crash.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, www.kbtx.com