The death toll from the UPS cargo plane crash in Kentucky has climbed to 15 after a man, Alain Rodriguez Colina, who was injured on the ground when the plane crashed on November 4th, died from his wounds on Christmas Day. Rodriguez Colina was an employee at Grade A Auto Parts & Recycling, a scrapyard that was among the businesses struck by UPS Flight 2976 as it took off from Louisville's airport. He is the fourth employee of Grade A Auto Parts & Recycling to die as a result of the crash; customers were also among the fatalities. Rodriguez Colina had worked at the company since 2023 and was known for his friendly demeanor and dedication to customers.
The crash occurred when the plane's left engine detached during takeoff. The MD-11 aircraft, fully fueled for a flight to Hawaii, impacted businesses near the airport, resulting in a massive explosion. In addition to the ground victims, three pilots on board UPS Flight 2976 also perished. Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board discovered cracks in the area where the plane's engine connected to its wing. Following the incident, the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a grounding of all MD-11 aircraft, which had been exclusively used for cargo for over a decade. In the aftermath, UPS and the engine manufacturer, General Electric (GE), faced wrongful death lawsuits alleging inadequate maintenance of older planes. Both companies stated they do not comment on ongoing litigation but emphasized their commitment to safety and cooperation with investigators.