Executive Summary
- Families of victims Angela Anderson and Trinadette Chavez have filed wrongful death lawsuits following the Nov. 4 UPS plane crash.
- Defendants named include UPS, Boeing, GE, and maintenance provider AT San Antonio Aerospace Inc.
- Attorneys allege an engine detached during takeoff, indicating a catastrophic failure of safety systems.
- The litigation joins a previously filed class-action suit representing the surrounding community.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Families of two victims killed in the November 4 UPS cargo plane crash in Louisville are formally pursuing wrongful death litigation against the shipping giant, along with Boeing, General Electric, and associated maintenance firms. The lawsuits stem from the fatal incident at Muhammad Ali International Airport, where an MD-11 cargo jet crashed into a nearby industrial park, resulting in 14 deaths.
According to a joint announcement, local attorney Sam Aguiar has partnered with Chicago-based Clifford Law Offices to file the complaints. The plaintiffs represent the estates of Angela Anderson, 45, and Trinadette Chavez, 37. Both women were present at Grade A Auto Parts and Recycling, a facility situated in the crash zone. Anderson was reportedly at the site to drop off materials, while Chavez was an employee of the company.
The legal filings allege negligence against a broad spectrum of corporate defendants involving the aircraft’s operation, manufacturing, and maintenance. These entities include UPS and UPS AIR, engine manufacturer General Electric (GE), and Boeing, which acquired the original airframe manufacturer, McDonnell Douglas. Additionally, the suit names AT San Antonio Aerospace Inc., identifying it as the company responsible for specific pre-flight inspections and maintenance work.
Bradley M. Cosgrove, a partner at Clifford Law, detailed the allegations in a statement, claiming that an engine detached from the large cargo jet during takeoff. “This tragedy is an unacceptable event that indicates a catastrophic failure across numerous safety systems,” Cosgrove stated, emphasizing the devastating impact on the families and the surrounding community.
This litigation follows a separate federal class-action lawsuit filed in the immediate aftermath by the law firm Morgan & Morgan. That suit seeks to represent residents and business owners within five miles of the airport who suffered property damage or economic loss due to the explosion and subsequent fires.
Civil Litigation and Aviation Oversight
The filing of wrongful death claims initiates a complex legal discovery process that will likely scrutinize the maintenance records, structural integrity, and history of the aging MD-11 fleet. While federal investigators work to determine the technical probable cause of the accident for regulatory purposes, the civil judicial process will focus on establishing financial liability among the manufacturers, operators, and maintenance providers. The specific inclusion of the maintenance firm and manufacturers suggests a legal strategy focused on systemic failures in the aircraft’s airworthiness rather than solely on flight operations. These proceedings will move forward independently of federal safety probes, though findings from the NTSB often influence civil outcomes.
