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The NTSB announced on Thursday that it will be holding a two-day investigative hearing over the UPS MD-11F aircraft that crashed in Louisville, Kentucky on Nov. 4, 2025.
The McDonnell Douglas MD-11, operating as Flight 2976, was departing from Louisville International Muhammad Ali Airport (SDF) and was scheduled to fly to Daniel K Inouye International Airport (HNL) in Honolulu. Shortly after takeoff from SDF, the plane's left engine separated from the wing and caught fire. The aircraft crashed into a nearby petroleum recycling plant and automotive salvage yard. Flight-data recorder (FDR) logs indicate that the aircraft did not rise more than 30 feet above ground level. The crash claimed the lives of all three crew members and 11 people on the ground. A 15th victim later died on Christmas Day from the injuries he sustained from the crash.
The preliminary report stated that fatigue cracks were discovered on left-engine-mount components recovered from the runway, including the spherical bearing assembly. It also stated there was evidence of overstress failures. It was later discovered that these specific parts were identified in 2011 in a Boeing service letter as being prone to cracking and breaking. While Boeing recommended replacing them with a different part, it did not require it and did not prohibit installing the part.
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UPS grounded all of its MD-11 aircraft following the crash, then retired the aircraft on Jan. 27 in its Q4 2025 earnings report.
The hearing will be held at the NTSB Boardroom and Conference Center on May 19-20. Times for the start and end of the hearing will be announced the week of May 11. A link to the live stream of the webcast? will be available shortly before the start of the meeting. It will be open to the public, but only NTSB board members, investigators, witnesses and parties to the hearing are allowed to participate. The NTSB states these hearings are to assist in getting the necessary information on accidents under investigation. The agenda, witness list and other details will be announced in the coming weeks.