Shocking new footage has emerged showing the horrifying moment an engine detached from a UPS cargo jet during takeoff, leading to a catastrophic crash that claimed 14 lives in Kentucky.
The Fateful Takeoff and Crash Sequence
Federal investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have released dramatic images capturing the precise moment the left engine separated from the UPS Boeing MD-11F aircraft. The plane managed to reach only 30 feet (9.1 meters) into the air before disaster struck on November 4, 2025.
According to the flight data recorder cited in the NTSB's preliminary report, the detachment occurred during takeoff from Muhammad Ali International Airport in Louisville. The aircraft subsequently slammed into the ground, tearing through the roof of a UPS warehouse before exploding into a fireball.
Victims and Investigation Findings
The crash claimed the lives of three flight crew members aboard the aircraft and eleven people on the ground. Among the victims were a local business owner and a grandfather with his granddaughter, described by officials as being "in the wrong place at the wrong time."
This tragedy represents the deadliest incident in UPS's corporate history. The NTSB investigation has revealed critical evidence of cracks in the left wing's engine mount, which likely contributed to the engine separation.
Maintenance Schedule Under Scrutiny
Investigators disclosed that the aircraft was not yet due for a detailed inspection of the key engine mount components that displayed fractures. The plane required nearly 7,000 more takeoffs and landings before this mandatory check, having last undergone examination in October 2021.
Aviation safety expert Jeff Guzzetti commented to The Associated Press that "It appears UPS was conducting this maintenance within the required time frame, but I'm sure the FAA is now going to ponder whether that time frame is adequate."
The newly released photographs clearly show the left engine breaking away from the aircraft and flying upward over the wing as the plane continued down the runway, providing crucial visual evidence for the ongoing investigation into this devastating aviation disaster.
