LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Fifteen lawsuits have been filed in Jefferson Circuit Court on behalf of more than 100 victims impacted by the November 4, 2025, crash of UPS Flight 2976 in Louisville, according to a press release.
The release says Kentucky law firms Whiteford Law and Peterson Law announced the legal action Thursday after crash victims and business owners shared emotional interviews on national television.
According to the release, the lawsuits name United Parcel Service Co. (Air), United Parcel Service Inc., Boeing Company, General Electric Company, VT San Antonio Aerospace Inc., the estate of pilot Richard R. Wartenberg, and several Allianz insurance companies as defendants.
“Our clients showed tremendous courage sharing their stories with the nation this morning,” said Masten Childers III, Kentucky Managing Partner at Whiteford Law. “These lawsuits represent months of methodical investigation into corporate negligence that could have been prevented. We will hold every responsible party accountable.”
The lawsuits come after what the firms described as unsuccessful settlement talks with the defendants.
“Behind every lawsuit is a family trying to rebuild their lives and a business trying to pick up the pieces. We’re here to make sure they have the resources and support they need to heal,” said Justin Peterson, Founding Partner of Peterson Law.
The release states the lawsuits represent families who lost loved ones in the crash, workers and community members injured by the explosion and fire, and nine local businesses destroyed in the crash, including Grade A Autoparts.
The legal filings claim Flight 2976’s MD-11 aircraft experienced a catastrophic failure of its left engine pylon assembly during takeoff — the same type of failure plaintiffs’ attorneys say caused the 1979 American Airlines Flight 191 crash in Chicago that killed 273 people. According to the release, the filings also claim Boeing issued service bulletins in 2011 warning about known risks involving the aircraft, but defendants continued operating it without proper safety measures despite those warnings.
The filings further allege that corporate decisions favored operational efficiency over stronger safety protocols despite documented concerns surrounding the MD-11 aircraft type.
According to the release, the lawsuits were filed after settlement discussions failed. UPS CEO Carol Tomé previously described the crash as a “tragic accident” and said the company “does the right thing.” Court documents reportedly outline how defendants declined settlement negotiations despite UPS’s public statements about supporting the Louisville community.
“The evidence will speak for itself in court,” Childers said. “Our clients deserve more than public statements — they deserve real accountability and fair compensation for their losses. We have assembled one of the most comprehensive aviation disaster cases in Kentucky history. The evidence is overwhelming, and we’re prepared to fight to ensure justice is served for every single victim.”
Leave a Reply