Chilling new footage captured the moment an engine detached from a UPS cargo plane as it took off from a runway in Kentucky, resulting in the deaths of 15 people. The clip, released by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on Tuesday, shows the jet gliding along the runway at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport before it suddenly burst into flames on November 4, 2025.
Details of the Incident
The aircraft continued to lift off the ground as its engine and pylon—the bridge structure attaching the engine to the wing—flew off and struck the ground below. Plumes of smoke and a massive fireball followed, with the tragedy claiming the lives of 12 individuals on the ground and three crew members aboard the plane.
Victims Identified
The victims who died on the ground were identified as Carlos Fernandez, 52; Angela Anderson, 45; Trinadette 'Trina' Chavez, 37; John Loucks, 52; John Spray, 45; Matthew Sweets, 37; Ella Petty Whorton, 31; Megan Washburn, 35; Tony Crain, 65; Louisnes Fedon, 47; and his 3-year-old granddaughter, Kimberly Asa. UPS identified the crew members as Captain Richard Wartenberg, 57; First Officer Lee Truitt, 45; and International Relief Officer Captain Dana Diamond, 62.
The NTSB continues to investigate the cause of the engine detachment and subsequent fire. The footage has reignited concerns about aircraft maintenance and safety protocols.
