Overview
- The cargo jet crashed seconds after takeoff on November 4 from Louisville Muhammad Ali International, killing at least 13 people including the three pilots.
- Video and debris evidence indicate the left engine detached during the takeoff roll, with fragments striking the tail engine and leaving only the right engine producing thrust.
- The NTSB deployed a 28‑member team, recovered the flight data and cockpit voice recorders, and requested maintenance documentation from September and October.
- FAA records show the aircraft underwent critical fuel‑tank repairs in San Antonio, remaining grounded from September 3 until returning to service on October 18.
- Experienced MD‑11 commanders who reviewed available material say the jet was beyond V1, making an abort impossible, and that pilot error appears unlikely at this stage.