Engine Rips Off UPS Cargo Plane During Takeoff: NTSB Reveals Startling Cause

The moment of catastrophe is now visible to everyone. New video released by the National Transportation Safety Board this week captures the instant an engine tears away from a UPS cargo plane during takeoff in Louisville, Kentucky—the explosion erupting across the runway in a burst of metal and force. The footage, released on Tuesday, shows the aircraft accelerating down the runway before beginning its climb, when the engine suddenly detaches and sends debris flying.

What happened next was tragic. The plane, heading for Hawaii, managed to stay airborne briefly before crashing behind a tire store. Fifteen people lost their lives in the crash that occurred back in November. The horror is compounded by what investigators discovered: a cracked structural part that connects the engine to the wing—a component that should have kept the engine firmly attached.

The NTSB’s findings point to a systemic issue that extends beyond this single disaster. UPS has since retired its entire fleet of MD-11 cargo planes, the model involved in the crash, acknowledging the severity of the problem. However, FedEx continues to operate the same aircraft model, raising questions about whether additional safeguards or inspections need to be mandated across the industry. The NTSB investigation is ongoing, with a final report expected sometime later this year, but the video evidence and structural findings paint a sobering picture of how quickly mechanical failure can transform routine operations into tragedy. For anyone who flies—whether in a commercial cabin, cargo hold, or as crew—this serves as a stark reminder of how dependent safety is on maintenance, inspection protocols, and the structural integrity of components most passengers never see.