Boeing's Oversight in UPS Plane Crash Investigation Raises Safety Concerns

Thu Jan 15 2026 02:12:21 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The National Transportation Safety Board revealed that Boeing failed to recognize a safety threat linked to a crucial engine part years before a tragic crash that killed 15 people.

A recent report from the NTSB has shed light on Boeing's prior warnings about a critical engine component part that contributed to a devastating UPS plane crash in November 2025. Despite four documented failures of this part since 2011, Boeing determined it did not pose a safety risk at the time. The UPS flight, headed for Hawaii, tragically crashed shortly after takeoff from Louisville, Kentucky, leading to the deaths of three pilots and 12 people on the ground. Investigators are focused on a failure of the spherical bearing race, even as Boeing and UPS acknowledged the tragedy's impact on the affected communities.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) revealed troubling details about Boeing's failure to address safety risks linked to a faulty engine part prior to a tragic UPS plane crash that killed 15 people. In a report this week, the NTSB stated that Boeing documented issues with the part in 2011, yet did not view it as a safety threat at that time.

The UPS MD-11 cargo plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Louisville, Kentucky, igniting flames and resulting in the loss of three pilots and 12 people on the ground. Investigators have since identified a break in the spherical bearing race as having contributed to the accident.

Initially built by McDonnell Douglas and later acquired by Boeing, the MD-11 had been the subject of scrutiny due to its engine mounts which had previously shown failures. This crash has sparked concerns paralleling an earlier incident in 1979, where an American Airlines DC-10 lost an engine during takeoff, resulting in 273 fatalities.

Boeing and UPS have both expressed their condolences as the investigation continues. NTSB's ongoing examination will ultimately determine whether further action is needed in ensuring aircraft safety and maintenance.