The National Transportation Safety Board released disturbing new CCTV footage showing the exact moment UPS Flight 2976 suffered a catastrophic mechanical failure during takeoff from Louisville on November 4, 2025. The slow-motion footage captures the MD-11F cargo plane’s left engine and pylon tearing away from the wing, followed by flames and thick smoke moments before the aircraft crashed, killing all three crew members and leaving another 12 people dead on the ground with dozens more injured.

Investigators say the disaster was caused by fatigue cracks in the engine pylon attachment structure, triggering renewed scrutiny over long-standing safety concerns tied to the aging MD-11 aircraft model. According to NTSB findings, Boeing had reportedly been aware of similar pylon-related defects in the aircraft years before the deadly crash, raising serious questions about maintenance oversight, structural inspections, and whether stronger corrective action should have been taken earlier.

The tragedy ultimately pushed UPS to retire its remaining MD-11 fleet in early 2026 as the investigation continued unfolding under intense public and industry attention. Aviation experts say the newly released footage could become one of the most significant pieces of evidence in determining how the catastrophic failure occurred and whether additional accountability may follow for manufacturers, operators, or maintenance procedures linked to one of America’s deadliest cargo aviation disasters in recent years.