UPS put profits over safety before plane crash that killed 14, lawyer alleges
Fatal UPS cargo plane crash The crash in Kentucky was caused by corporate choices that prioritized profit over safety, according to an attorney who filed two wrongful death lawsuits on Wednesday, arguing that the company continued to fly older planes without increasing maintenance beyond what was regularly scheduled.
Last month fiery accident occurred during takeoff after the aircraft’s left engine separated and Cracks were later found The National Transportation Safety Board said that’s where the engine connects to the wing. The lawsuit also names General Electric, which made the plane’s engine. Both UPS and GE said they do not comment on pending litigation and that safety is a top priority as they assist in the federal investigation.
Robert Clifford, an attorney for the two victims killed on the ground, said those cracks show that MD-11 jets, which are more than 30 years old on average, are too dangerous for package delivery companies to remain in the air. Federal Aviation Administration grounded all MD-11sTransporting only cargo for over ten years.
Three pilots and 11 people on the ground lost their lives He was killed on November 4 While the plane was fully loaded with fuel to fly to Hawaii, banished to workplaces It’s just outside the airport in Louisville, where UPS has its largest package delivery center.
Clifford said UPS saves money and aircraft downtime by keeping “old, tired” planes in the air without increasing the number of inspections. His lawyer friend, Bradley Cosgrove, stated at a press conference that they believe the cracks noted by federal inspectors should have been found during inspections and said, “This plane should never have been in the air.”
The lawsuits, filed in state court, were filed on behalf of the families of Angela Anderson, 45, who was shopping at a business near the airport, and Trinadette “Trina” Chavez, 37, who worked at Grade A Auto Parts.
“We intend to defend and fight for ‘Nena’ no matter how long it takes, just as Nena always did for us,” said Chavez’s sister, Gabriela Hermosillo-Nunez, who called her by another nickname used by her eight younger brothers and sisters.
The lawsuit also includes Boeing, which purchased the plane’s original manufacturer, McDonell Douglas, and VT San Antonio Aerospace, Inc., which inspected and maintained the plane. is also included. The two companies did not immediately respond to email and phone messages seeking comment.
According to the lawsuits, the crashed jet had just completed more than six weeks of comprehensive maintenance in which VT San Antonio Aerospace crews repaired significant structural problems and was completed on Oct. 18. These included repairing a crack in the center wing fuel tank, removing corrosion on structural components, and lubricating parts that connect the engine to the wing.
The engine mount had not undergone a detailed inspection since 2021, and the aircraft was not required to undergo a detailed inspection of this part again for 7,000 takeoffs and landings.
Federal investigators after the crash grounded The remaining 109 MD-11s were all used by UPS, FedEx and Western Global for inspection and repairs, but the FAA did not say what would be required.
Planes make up about 9% of the UPS airline fleet and 4% of the FedEx fleet. Experts said package delivery companies could find the job in case of major repairs or overhauls. to change them better option. UPS announced last week that it does not expect MD-11s to return to the skies until at least: after the holiday season.
Legal battles arising from the accident are likely just beginning. UPS was named as a defendant in a federal lawsuit filed last month accusing it of negligence and disorderly conduct. The crash “hit like a bombshell” and the plaintiffs’ lives and businesses were “turned upside down” as a result, the lawsuit said.
Associated Press writer Josh Funk in Omaha, Nebraska, contributed to this report.
