Photos Reveal Moment UPS Jet’s Engine Detached Before Deadly Kentucky Crash [WATCH]

Newly released photos from the November 4 crash of a UPS cargo plane in Kentucky show the moment one of the aircraft’s engines separated and ignited during takeoff.

The National Transportation Safety Board published the images along with its preliminary findings on Thursday.

The MD-11 aircraft was taking off from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport when its left engine detached.

The photos show the engine breaking away and appearing to strike the fuselage.

US NTSB has issued its preliminary report for the ongoing investigation of the Nov. 4 crash of UPS flight 2976, a Boeing MD-11F in Louisville, Kentucky.

The taxi and takeoff roll were uneventful until the airplane rotated for takeoff. Airport surveillance video of the airplane… pic.twitter.com/PWPCSTToIH

— Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@aviationbrk) November 20, 2025

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The crash resulted in 14 fatalities, including all three crew members on board and 11 people on the ground.

According to the NTSB’s initial report, investigators found “fatigue cracks” and indications of “overstress” on the pylon that supported the left engine.

The cracks were identified in the aft mount of the left pylon, the structure that connects the engine to the wing.

The report also stated that the bearing used to secure that connection had fractured.

Photos and images from the NTSB preliminary report on its investigation into the Nov. 4 crash of a UPS Boeing MD-11F airplane in Louisville, Kentucky: https://t.co/r107Qqt0P1 pic.twitter.com/3Ecrwd4Dd2

— NTSB Newsroom (@NTSB_Newsroom) November 20, 2025

The NTSB noted that there were no signs of pre-existing fractures or deformation on other components that attach the engine to the wing.

The aircraft involved in the incident was manufactured in 1991 and had undergone recent maintenance before the flight.

Investigators said takeoff for UPS Flight 2976 was routine until the final moments, when the engine failure occurred.

The aircraft did not climb higher than 30 feet before it descended and struck a UPS warehouse and recycling facility located just south of the airport.

The preliminary findings indicate similarities to the 1979 crash of an American Airlines flight in Chicago, in which the left engine also separated during takeoff.

That incident resulted in 273 fatalities and remains one of the deadliest aviation accidents in U.S. history.

The NTSB’s investigation into the November crash is ongoing. Officials recovered the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder from the site and are analyzing both devices.

Investigators are also reviewing the maintenance history of the 34-year-old cargo aircraft, including repairs completed in Texas in the weeks leading up to the crash.