New Lawsuit Targets UPS, Boeing and Others Over Fatal Louisville Plane Crash

A new wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against UPS, Boeing, General Electric and VT San Antonio Aerospace following the deadly crash of UPS Flight 2976 near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in November 2025.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the estate of 37-year-old Matthew Sweets, who was at Grade A Auto Parts selling scrap metal when the aircraft crashed moments after takeoff. According to the complaint, Sweets was “engulfed in flames and explosions” and suffered third-degree burns across nearly his entire body.

Sweets survived the initial crash and reportedly walked out of the fire, but died two days later on November 6 after battling his catastrophic injuries. His attorneys described the suffering endured by Sweets and his family as “unimaginable.”

The crash killed 15 people and injured several others.

The lawsuit alleges that mechanical and structural dangers linked to the MD-11 were known before the crash and that the tragedy was preventable. The complaint points to a 2008 Boeing service letter that reportedly identified structural vulnerabilities in the MD-11 pylon assembly but did not require operators to replace the components.

The filing also alleges UPS Airlines continued operating the aircraft without implementing improved part designs, while General Electric failed to ensure the integrity of engine attachments and VT San Antonio Aerospace failed to identify and address signs of stress.

These are allegations made in the lawsuit and have not yet been proven in court.

Sweets’ estate is seeking compensation for wrongful death, pain and suffering, emotional and financial damages, as well as punitive damages intended to punish what the complaint calls “outrageous and deplorable conduct.”

The case adds another major legal battle surrounding the catastrophic UPS Flight 2976 crash as questions over the aircraft’s mechanical history and maintenance continue to face scrutiny.