NTSB Hearing Examines UPS Flight 2976 MD-11F Fatal Crash

NTSB Hearing Examines UPS Flight 2976 Fatal Crash

The National Transportation Safety Board held a two-day investigative hearing May 19-20, 2026, in Washington examining the fatal UPS Flight 2976 accident. The hearing focused on structural failure that led to the left engine detaching during takeoff on Nov. 4, 2025, killing all three crew members and 12 people on the ground.

Testimony examined a history of bearing fractures in MD-11F aircraft spanning several years before the accident. According to expert analysis presented at the hearing, the failure involved bearing fractures leading to load redistribution and subsequent attachment failure, resulting in engine separation from the pylon.

The NTSB preliminary report identified fatigue cracks in the pylon aft mount. The hearing also addressed maintenance oversight concerns, including questions about outsourced heavy maintenance practices. The investigation remains ongoing, with the NTSB yet to release final conclusions on the cause of the accident involving the McDonnell Douglas MD-11F freighter.