NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A leading aviation attorney says the UPS cargo jet that crashed in Louisville earlier this month — killing 14 people and injuring more than 20 — should have been subject to far more frequent safety inspections because of its age.

Keith Williams, an attorney who has represented families in major aviation disasters, says the National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary findings raise urgent questions about whether current inspection schedules adequately protect crews and communities.

The NTSB’s November 20 preliminary report found a crack in the aircraft’s left engine mount, a failure that caused the engine to detach from the wing during flight. The November 4 crash also destroyed several nearby businesses.

According to the NTSB, UPS performs general and detailed visual inspections of engine mounts every 72 months. The aircraft’s last such inspection occurred in October 2021. While lubrications required every 24 months or 4,800 hours were completed, deeper-cycle inspections of mount lugs and wing supports were not yet due because the aircraft had recorded 21,043 cycles—below the required thresholds of 29,200 and 28,000 cycles, respectively.

Williams says relying solely on long-cycle inspections for an older aircraft leaves too much room for catastrophic failure.

“Waiting two to six years to reinspect a plane of this age is far too long,” Williams said. “Inspection schedules should evolve as aircraft age. A more proactive approach could prevent tragedies like this.”

He also questioned how the aircraft could have passed routine maintenance without the crack being discovered.

“How could such a serious defect go undetected during scheduled lubrication?” Williams said. “When even small structural issues are missed, the consequences can be devastating.”

Williams urged regulators and cargo carriers to reassess inspection protocols for aging fleets as the NTSB continues its investigation.

In addition to his practice, Williams is the Past Chair of the American Association for Justice’s Aviation Litigation Section, and he is a member of the Aviation and Space Law Committee of the American Bar Association’s Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section. Mr. Williams is also a member and past president of the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association.

For more information, call (615) 444-2900 or visit www.keithwilliamslawgroup.com.

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About Keith Williams Law Group

With two convenient locations, one in downtown Nashville and the other on the historic town square in Lebanon, Keith Williams Law Group can help its clients achieve the maximum possible compensation for their injuries. Its attorneys represent those who have been injured as a result of car accidents, trucking accidents, motorcycle accidents, aviation accidents, highway work zone accidents, defective products, and trucker broker negligence. For more information, call (615) 444-2900 or visit www.keithwilliamslawgroup.com.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Aviation attorney Keith Williams is publicly backing the Federal Aviation Administration’s decision to immediately ground all McDonnell Douglas MD-11 and DC-10 aircraft following last week’s catastrophic crash at the UPS air hub in Louisville, Kentucky.

On November 4, a 1991 MD-11 lost its left engine during takeoff, sparking a wing fire and crashing near the runway. Fourteen people — including all three crew members — were killed, and several nearby businesses were destroyed. In response, both UPS and FedEx voluntarily grounded the remaining MD-11 and DC-10 aircraft in their fleets while federal investigators began examining potential structural or age-related issues.

Williams, who has represented victims in major aviation disasters for more than 30 years, says the FAA’s action is not only appropriate but essential to restoring public confidence.

“The FAA made the right call,” Williams said. “Until we know whether aging components or maintenance gaps contributed to this tragedy, these aircraft should not be in the air. Every operator and regulator should be laser-focused on preventing another preventable loss of life.”

Williams said investigators will be scrutinizing inspection logs, maintenance records, and possible fatigue in aging aircraft parts — factors that historically play significant roles in cargo-aircraft incidents.

“Grounding the fleet is the only responsible choice while we wait for answers,” he added. “No package delivery schedule is worth risking another disaster.”

In addition to his practice, Williams is the Past Chair of the American Association for Justice’s Aviation Litigation Section, and he is a member of the Aviation and Space Law Committee of the American Bar Association’s Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section. Williams is also a member and past president of the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association.

For more information, call (615) 444-2900 or visit www.keithwilliamslawgroup.com.

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* Photo is attached.

About Keith Williams Law Group

With two convenient locations, one in downtown Nashville and the other on the historic town square in Lebanon, Keith Williams Law Group can help its clients achieve the maximum possible compensation for their injuries. Its attorneys represent those who have been injured as a result of car accidents, trucking accidents, motorcycle accidents, aviation accidents, highway work zone accidents, defective products, and trucker broker negligence. For more information, call (615) 444-2900 or visit www.keithwilliamslawgroup.com.

Says Age of Aircraft Raises Questions About Safety Oversight

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Aviation attorney Keith Williams of The Keith Williams Law Group is urging federal investigators to review maintenance and inspection records following last Monday’s fiery crash of a UPS cargo plane shortly after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport.

The McDonnell Douglas MD-11F, bound for Honolulu, reportedly carried 26,000 gallons of fuel when it went down just after 5 p.m. local time. As it took off, the left wing caught fire and the left engine fell off. Fourteen people ­– including the three crew members – were killed and another 12 were hospitalized. The crash caused an explosion that leveled nearby businesses, including a recycling facility, where three employees were killed.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that, two months ago, the plane had a crack and evidence of corrosion while it was at a facility in San Antonio, Texas. Once those were fixed, the plane resumed flying on an almost daily basis.

UPS said, out of an abundance of caution, they grounded all MD-11 aircraft. McDonnell-Douglas, meanwhile, announced it will phase out the MD-11.

“This accident raises serious questions about whether proper maintenance protocols were followed and if those repairs were satisfactorily made,” said Mr. Williams. “These aircraft are aging workhorses of the cargo fleet. The NTSB needs to determine whether mechanical or oversight issues played a role before tragedy strikes again.”

Mr. Williams, who has represented victims and families in major aviation disasters nationwide, added that the age of the MD-11F model should be a central focus of the investigation. The plane type first entered service in the early 1990s and remains a mainstay in cargo transport fleets worldwide.

“The public has a right to know whether this was an isolated failure or a symptom of a larger maintenance problem,” Mr. Williams said.

The NTSB has not yet released details on the possible cause of the crash.

In addition to his practice, Mr. Williams is the Past Chair of the American Association for Justice’s Aviation Litigation Section, and he is a member of the Aviation and Space Law Committee of the American Bar Association’s Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section. Mr. Williams is also a member and past president of the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association.

For more information, call (615) 444-2900 or visit www.keithwilliamslawgroup.com.

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* Photo is attached.

About Keith Williams Law Group

With two convenient locations, one in downtown Nashville and the other on the historic town square in Lebanon, Keith Williams Law Group can help its clients achieve the maximum possible compensation for their injuries. Its attorneys represent those who have been injured as a result of car accidents, trucking accidents, motorcycle accidents, aviation accidents, highway work zone accidents, defective products, and trucker broker negligence. For more information, call (615) 444-2900 or visit www.keithwilliamslawgroup.com.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Aviation attorney Keith Williams said it is wise to reserve judgment until the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) can determine what caused a medical helicopter to crash.

On November 8, 2025, a LifeFlight helicopter carrying three people left from a helipad near the Music City Executive Airport in Gallatin, Tennessee, when it crashed in a field in the 7100 block of Cairo Bend Road between Gallatin and Lebanon, Tennessee in Wilson County. One person died and two people were hospitalized.  Thankfully, there were no patients on the helicopter at the time of the crash.

The helicopter was owned and operated by Air Methods LLC for the benefit of Vanderbilt University Medical Center.  The aircraft was a 2015 Eurocopter EC 130T2 (Airbus Helicopters H130). The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will lead the investigation.

Preliminary ADS-B radar data shows that the helicopter proceeded south to an inflight altitude of 4,100 feet.  About five minutes into the flight, the helicopter entered a 180-degree turn back towards the airport. Two minutes later, the helicopter was 1.90 miles south of the airport when it entered a descending right-hand turn towards an open field. The helicopter struck the top of a tree and impacted terrain. There was no post-crash fire.

“Since there are very few details right now, it’s difficult to determine how the crash occurred,” Mr. Williams says. “I suggest that we should hold off on making any unfounded assumptions about what happened.”

In addition to his practice, Mr. Williams is the Past Chair of the American Association for Justice’s Aviation Litigation Section, and he is a member of the Aviation and Space Law Committee of the American Bar Association’s Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section. Mr. Williams is also a member and past president of the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association.

For more information, call (615) 444-2900 or visit www.keithwilliamslawgroup.com.

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* Photo is attached.

About Keith Williams Law Group

With two convenient locations, one in downtown Nashville and the other on the historic town square in Lebanon, Keith Williams Law Group can help its clients achieve the maximum possible compensation for their injuries. Its attorneys represent those who have been injured as a result of car accidents, trucking accidents, motorcycle accidents, aviation accidents, highway work zone accidents, defective products, and trucker broker negligence. For more information, call (615) 444-2900 or visit www.keithwilliamslawgroup.com.

NASHVILLE, TENN. — A prominent aviation attorney is calling on the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to scrutinize maintenance records after a deadly small-plane crash in Battle Ground, Washington — a case the NTSB has so far been unable to explain.

The crash, which killed the lone pilot on board a Cessna Skyhawk on September 26, has drawn national attention after the NTSB’s preliminary report listed the cause as “unknown.” But attorney Keith Williams, who has represented victims in dozens of high-profile aviation cases, says that’s not good enough.

“When a plane goes down without an immediate explanation, the first place investigators should look is the maintenance history,” said Williams, founder of the Keith Williams Law Group. “If there were no mechanical red flags, then communication logs between the pilot and tower should be reviewed. Right now, there are too many unanswered questions — and the public deserves answers.”

The Cessna had departed from Kelso, Washington, and was approaching Goheen Airport in Battle Ground when it lost control and crashed into a wooded area just west of the runway around 1:06 p.m. The Clark County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the pilot was killed on impact.

Williams says it’s critical for the NTSB to take a more aggressive approach — both to bring closure to the victim’s family and to ensure public safety moving forward.

“This isn’t just about one crash. It’s about accountability and prevention,” Williams added.

In addition to his practice, Williams is the Past Chair of the American Association for Justice’s Aviation Litigation Section, and he is a member of the Aviation and Space Law Committee of the American Bar Association’s Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section. Mr. Williams is also a member and past president of the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association.

For more information, call (615) 444-2900 or visit www.keithwilliamslawgroup.com.

 

 

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About Keith Williams Law Group

With two convenient locations, one in downtown Nashville and the other on the historic town square in Lebanon, Keith Williams Law Group can help its clients achieve the maximum possible compensation for their injuries. Its attorneys represent those who have been injured as a result of car accidents, trucking accidents, motorcycle accidents, aviation accidents, highway work zone accidents, defective products, and trucker broker negligence. For more information, call (615) 444-2900 or visit www.keithwilliamslawgroup.com.