UPS Blames Boeing For Skipping Enhanced McDonnell Douglas MD-11 Checks Before Fatal Crash

UPS is blaming Boeing for skipping enhanced MD-11 checks before the fatal UPS Airlines Flight 2976 crash in Louisville, Kentucky, about eight months after the accident. The article says the initial cause was evident from the start: catastrophic left engine separation on takeoff, but determining responsibility has proven more complex. In a post-hearing NTSB submission, UPS reportedly argued that Boeing advised it the MD-11F engine flaw did not pose a flight-safety risk. According to reports cited, Boeing told UPS that bearing failures in the engine pylons would not compromise safety, leading the carrier to forgo advanced inspections. UPS contends it relied on those representations and therefore concluded no additional maintenance-program changes were necessary beyond existing MPD inspections. Aviation safety expert Jeff Guzzetti is cited as saying multiple parties may have roles, including UPS, Boeing, the FAA, and STE San Antonio Aerospace, with NTSB tasked to apportion responsibilities.