UPS plane crash lawsuit

 

ST Engineering’s US unit among defendants in UPS plane crash lawsuit

Lawsuit alleges negligence in maintenance checks by subsidiary VT San Antonio Aerospace

By Young Zhan Heng

Published Friday , December 12, 2025 · 04:57 PM

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The suit relates to a Nov 4 plane crash, which killed 14 and injured 23.

The suit relates to a Nov 4 plane crash, which killed 14 and injured 23. PHOTO: REUTERS

[SINGAPORE] ST Engineering’s United States subsidiary, VT San Antonio Aerospace (VT SAA), was one of several companies named in a wrongful death lawsuit on December 3. 

The lawsuit, filed in a Kentucky court, alleged that the maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) company was negligent when maintaining the McDonnell Douglas MD-11F aircraft prior to the fatal UPS plane crash in November.

Shortly after taking off on November 4, the UPS cargo plane hit a storage yard and two additional buildings, including a petroleum recycling facility, preliminary investigations by the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) found. 

The crash killed 14 and injured 23, NTSB noted.

The lawsuit, which was filed by the family of one of the victims, also alleged negligence against shipping giant UPS and its airline subsidiary UPS Air, Boeing and General Electric.

According to court documents seen by The Business Times, VT SAA performed maintenance on the aircraft from September 3 to October 18.

The lawsuit alleged that VT SAA “owed a duty to exercise reasonable care in the maintenance, inspection and repair of aircraft”.

It further alleged that the negligence of VT SAA contributed to the left engine of the cargo plane detaching from the aircraft’s left wing.

VT SAA began operations in 2002, providing MRO services for cargo operators and commercial airlines. It is part of ST Engineering North America, formerly known as VT Systems.

A drone view of the crash site next to a runway at the Muhammad Ali International Airport following the crash of a UPS cargo plane in Louisville, Kentucky, November 7, 2025.    

UPS to ground 9% of its airline fleet after plane crash

Smoke rises from the wreckage of a UPS MD-11 cargo jet after it crashed on departure from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Louisville, Kentucky, November 4, 2025.  

UPS cargo plane crashes in Kentucky, leaving at least 3 killed, 11 injured

The McDonnell Douglas MD-11, operated by package delivery giant UPS and bound for Hawaii, crashed at 5.15 pm (2215 GMT) Tuesday, shortly after departing from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport.

Engine fell off UPS cargo plane before deadly crash: official

NTSB said that at the time of the accident, the plane had accumulated approximately 92,992 total flight hours and 21,043 cycles.

Federal Aviation Administration records show the aircraft was 34 years old.

The preliminary investigation found that the aircraft’s left engine and pylon separated shortly after rotation.

Responding to queries from BT, an ST Engineering spokesperson said that the company will not comment on pending litigation or legal proceedings, and that it will fully cooperate with the investigating authority, NTSB, and other authorities.

“We remain deeply saddened by the unfortunate accident of the UPS aircraft, and our thoughts continue to be with those who have been impacted, especially the bereaved families,” added the spokesperson. 

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