Internationally recognized Clifford Law Offices of Chicago, along with Sam Aguiar of Louisville, will file the first wrongful death lawsuits on Wednesday against multiple parties in the Nov. 4 crash of a UPS cargo jet shortly after takeoff from Louisville’s Muhammad Ali International Airport.
The plaintiffs' firms will file two lawsuits on Wednesday morning in Kentucky state court on behalf of families who lost loved ones when the MD-11 crashed into a nearby industrial park.
Among the plaintiffs are the families of Angela Anderson, a 45-year-old mother who was a customer at a local business when the MD-11 cargo jet lost its left engine and crashed into the industrial park, causing a massive explosion, and Trinadette ‘Trina’ Chavez, a 37-year-old mother of two employed at Grade A Auto Parts, one of the businesses destroyed in the crash.
Fourteen people were killed, and at least 23 others were injured. The MD-11 aircraft was on its way to Honolulu, Hawaii, carrying approximately 38,000 gallons of jet fuel.
The lawsuits allege negligence against UPS, UPS AIR, and name GE, the engine manufacturer; Boeing, which acquired McDonnell Douglas, the original manufacturer of the MD-11; and VT San Antonio Aerospace, Inc., the company responsible for certain inspections and maintenance before the crash.
Bradley M. Cosgrove, a partner at Clifford Law Offices, stated, “When an engine detaches from a large cargo jet during takeoff, and the aircraft bursts into a fireball visible for miles, an entire community is affected. Innocent lives are lost, leaving deep holes in families. Impacted survivors are left with injuries and lifelong scars, with their normal lives shattered by an explosion that many people compared to a bomb going off next door. This tragedy is an unacceptable event that indicates a catastrophic failure across numerous safety systems. Clifford Law Offices is committed to securing justice and providing answers for the affected families.”
Agular noted, "Through these lawsuits, we aim to get the answers that these family members deserve for their heartbreaking losses.”
"The aviation industry needs to learn not to repeat its mistakes," Clifford said. "Families who lost loved ones in this crash deserve the truth and full accountability. Clifford Law Offices has launched a comprehensive investigation to ensure those responsible face the consequences of their preventable failures."
FILE - This photo provided by the National Transportation Safety Board shows UPS plane crash scene on Nov. 6, 2025 in Louisville, Ky.
- Uncredited - National Transportation Safety Board
