The NTSB has released new CCTV footage related to the UPS Flight 2976 crash. The moments when the MD-11 aircraft lost its engine mid-air are playing a critical role in the investigation.
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released new CCTV footage showing the moment UPS Airlines Flight 2976 lost its left engine and the pylon structure connecting the engine to the wing during takeoff. The footage from the deadly crash in Louisville, Kentucky, which claimed 15 lives, is considered one of the most critical pieces of visual evidence in the investigation.
According to information reported by the New York Post, the footage shows the McDonnell Douglas MD-11F cargo aircraft accelerating down the runway at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport before taking off. Seconds after liftoff, the aircraft’s left engine and the pylon structure attaching it to the wing can clearly be seen separating from the aircraft.
As the detached engine falls toward the ground, the aircraft continues climbing briefly before beginning to shed debris and lose control. Moments later, the aircraft disappears from view as a massive explosion eruts, sending thick black smoke over the industrial area.
15 People Killed in UPS Flight 2976 Disaster
The 34-year-old MD-11F cargo aircraft departed Louisville on November 4, 2025, bound for Hawaii. However, the engine separation that occurred immediately after takeoff led to the crash.
Debris from the crash scattered across nearly half a mile, triggering a massive fire. All three crew members on board and 12 people on the ground lost their lives. More than 20 others were injured.
UPS identified the deceased crew members as Captain Richard Wartenberg (57), First Officer Lee Truitt (45), and International Relief Captain Dana Diamond (62).
The death toll later rose to 15 after Alain Rodriguez Colina, who had been hospitalized with severe injuries following the crash, died on Christmas Day.
NTSB: Metal Fatigue Found in Engine Mounting System
The National Transportation Safety Board also released initial technical findings regarding the mechanical failure that caused the crash.
According to the NTSB, two structural attachment components connecting the left engine to the wing failed. The engine mounting system consists of a spherical bearing housed inside structural brackets known as “lugs.”
Investigators determined that cracks caused by metal fatigue had developed over time within the bearing housing. Once this component separated, abnormal loads were transferred to the attachment points, ultimately causing the mounting system to fail and the engine to detach from the aircraft.
During a two-day hearing in Washington, NTSB experts also presented a special animation reconstructing the chain of mechanical failures.
FAA and Boeing Reviewing Previous Warnings
Another notable detail in the investigation is that the crashed aircraft had not originally been scheduled for the flight. According to NTSB documents, the crew was initially assigned a different aircraft, but it was replaced after a fuel leak was discovered during pre-flight checks.
The MD-11 involved in the crash was then assigned as a replacement aircraft.
According to Boeing records, the company had previously received nine separate reports related to the bearing housing system but concluded that the issues did not pose a serious safety risk. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also did not mandate additional inspections.
Following the crash, the FAA temporarily grounded all MD-11 aircraft before allowing operations to resume after the required inspections were completed.
Maintenance Procedures and Certification Oversight Under Investigation
As part of the NTSB investigation, representatives from UPS, Boeing, the FAA, and pilot union officials continue to face detailed questioning. Investigators are examining the adequacy of maintenance procedures, how previous technical warnings were evaluated, and the effectiveness of certification oversight.
The incident has become one of the deadliest cargo aviation disasters in the United States in recent years.
