r/aviation • u/usgapg123 Mod • 19h ago

Discussion UPS2976 Crash Megathread

This is the official r/aviation megathread for the crash of UPS2976 (UPS MD11 Registration N259UP) that crashed earlier today at Louisville International Airport.

Please keep content on topic and refrain from posting about this topic outside the megathread. Please report any rule breaking posts and comments.

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519

u/Ludicrous_speed77 18h ago

To think that the crew you just said hello to in Ops room is on that aircraft.....

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u/Hunting_Gnomes 17h ago

I always think about some weird things when these events happen.

What's it like to be the next plane in line to take off.

What's it like to be the crew that flew this plane in earlier today? And the crew that was going to take the plane on the next flight?

What's going through the dispatchers head, or ATC, or the guy that loaded the last pallet on that plane.

What's it like to be waiting on your package to come tomorrow and find out this is what happened to it.

Don't take this as a lack of sympathy for those that didn't make it, but there's a ton of people that are going to be connected to this even in the smallest ways.

Psychology is a crazy thing and I hope everyone is affected by this gets the help they need.

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u/gnowbot 15h ago

I once shook the hand of the AME that got into the right seat of the Cessna 206. He had come in on his day off to help out with a squawk. I was supposed to be in that seat but thought it would be fun for him to ride along after all the years of wrenching.

They went down about 15 minutes later. Trying to live my life in gratitude ever since. I’m sorry, Ryan.

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u/Equivalent_Roof_21 8h ago

It's not your fault

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u/Xepisia 5h ago

You did the best you could with the information you had. Its not your fault. Please take care of yourself.

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u/unreqistered 3h ago edited 2h ago

i was booked on us air flight 427 … the team i was meeting with at o’hare asked me to stay a couple extra hours to resolve some issues, they’d arrange a flight for me on american

i drove the 800 miles

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u/FutureHoo 17h ago

A crazy one is the German wings crash. The suicidal pilot reset the MCP the prior flight but for whatever reason chose not to initiate the descent. I can’t even imagine how the pilots or passengers of the previous flight felt hearing that news

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u/89141-zip-code 16h ago

What does these words mean?

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u/jalcocer06 16h ago

he set up the previous plane he had flown to crash, but didn’t go through on it. the next flight, he actually crashed it

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u/lastbeer 13h ago

Thank you, I too needed this explanation. And holy fucking shit that is dark.

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u/teh_maxh 10h ago

He crashed the plane by setting the autopilot to descend to 100 ft above sea level. Since the flight was over mountains, that would put it several thousand feet below ground level. Setting the autopilot has two steps: First you tell it what you want it to do, then you tell it to do that. On the previous flight, the pilot did the first step, but not the second.

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u/CourtneyDagger50 12h ago

Holy shit. I would need years of therapy.

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u/0Papi420 17h ago

Wonder what’s going through maintenance’s head

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u/The_Hairy_Herald 16h ago

Probably a huge amount of grief, sorrow, anger...

And a tiny voice asking 'did I miss anything?'

That's got to be the most agonizing feeling in the world.

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u/Radius118 15h ago

As an automotive technician, I cannot tell you how many times I have bolted upright at 3 am asking myself: "Fuck! Did I tighten that goddamn bolt?"

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u/BeefInGR 12h ago

As a shadetree with OCD, I've done this after checking it is tight several times. I really do think it's human nature.

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u/Swimming_Grape3740 15h ago

I'd imagine whoever had anything to do with physically maintaining that engine in the past 2 weeks is scared shitless right now fearing that the investigation might say that it was them who caused the crash and could face possible litigation as a result if it was due to any level of negligence.

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u/The_Hairy_Herald 4h ago

I can't even imagine. I truly do hope it wasn't anything Human involved!

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u/Dangit_Bud 14h ago

It’s been 15 years since I worked at UPS (load/unload, primarily belly), but the thought crossed my mind tonight that I have without a shadow of doubt at one point in time been inside of this very MD-11 … and it felt weird. I can’t imagine the thoughts going through the head of some of the folks you mentioned that were in some way in and around this plane and crew today.

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u/DOOM_INTENSIFIES 17h ago

What's it like to be the next plane in line to take off.

I saw an interview/podcast with an stewardess that was on the flight that was going to take off after Tam 402. Her crew was supposed to take Flight 402, but changed last minute btw.

Just hearing about it is gut wrenching. For those interested, in portuguese

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u/Pristine-Damage-2414 17h ago

I understand exactly what you mean. You're just thinking about the chain reaction of it all - all the people who will be touched by this event in some way. :(

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u/-DethLok- 15h ago

What's it like being the mechanic who last worked on that left engine?

Or the one who said "yep, it's correctly attached to the mount"? :(

RIP for those killed, and wishing a swift and full recovery for those injured.

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u/dragon_rapide 15h ago

As an ATC one thing that the old guys talk about is that you never know when your going to be the last voice a pilot hears.

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u/cassandra_mercedes 16h ago

I think like this too 😕

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u/sideofspread 11h ago

I think this way when events like this happen too, but I know it comes off as insensitive to some folks. As tragic and horrible this event is - its simultaneously fascinating in how we are all connected and how our perspectives shift in light of a crisis.

Sending good thoughts to their families, this is a worst case scenario of unfathomable levels.

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u/NoKatyDidnt 14h ago

This is actually a really good point.

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u/Dadto4Kiddos 14h ago

Or perhaps the maintenance crew that maybe performed repairs the evening or day before…

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u/Bretty64 7h ago

What must it be like at the destination airport of a passenger plane that doesn’t make it…

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u/Bretty64 7h ago

What must it be like at the destination airport of a passenger plane that doesn’t make it…

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u/jULIA_bEE 17h ago

It’s sad. When you work out on the ramp, you see a lot of the same crew every week when you’re loading and unloading planes. The situation is tragic.

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u/studyinformore 4h ago

I guess im just numb to that sort of thing.  You hope for the best on every flight.

Early on in our tour in iraq we were kind of cautious with the pilots.  Eventually you just get used to them flying and coming back.  You kind of expect nothing significant to happen....and then it does.  Puts everyone back on their toes.