Family of Louisville UPS Crash Victim Sues UPS, Boeing and Other Companies
The family of a man who died following the crash of UPS Flight 2976 in Louisville, Kentucky, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against UPS, Boeing, GE Aerospace and aircraft maintenance provider VT San Antonio Aerospace.
Matthew Hagan Sweets, a 37-year-old father of two, was inside Grade A Auto Parts when the UPS-operated McDonnell Douglas MD-11F crashed into the industrial area on November 4, 2025. He sustained severe burns and died in hospital two days later.
The N259UP-registered aircraft was operating a cargo flight from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport to Honolulu when its left engine and pylon separated shortly after take-off. The aircraft climbed to only around 30 feet before crashing and catching fire. The accident killed all three crew members and 12 people on the ground, while 23 others were injured.
The lawsuit alleges that the companies failed to adequately address previously identified structural concerns involving the MD-11’s engine pylon assembly. NTSB examinations found fatigue cracking across approximately 75 percent of a fractured bearing race within the left pylon aft mount, with the remaining damage consistent with overstress failure. The investigation remains ongoing, and the NTSB has not yet issued its final report or determined the probable cause.
The family is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, although no specific amount has been disclosed. The defendants have declined to comment on the allegations while the legal proceedings continue. The accident led to the temporary grounding of MD-11 aircraft, while UPS later permanently retired the type from its fleet.
