UPS Airlines Flight 2976
A cargo MD-11 lost its left engine and pylon during takeoff. It failed to climb clear of buildings south of Louisville's airport.
Incident date:
LEVEL 2 Preliminary findings
Aircraft
McDonnell Douglas aircraft accidents and incidents
The McDonnell Douglas appears in 9 of the incidents we cover, flown by 8 operators from 1974 to 2025. 8 rest on a final report and 1 on preliminary or official information. This page lists the incidents we have documented from official reports. It is not a measure of the aircraft's safety.
Last updated
| Date | Flight | Aircraft | Location | Fatalities | Report status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 November 2025 | UPS Airlines Flight 2976 | McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | Runway 17R departure, Louisville Muhammad Ali International | 15 including the later ground death; NTSB main tables list 14; 3 crew; no onboard survivors; 12 including a victim who died 51 days later | LEVEL 2 Preliminary findings |
| 20 August 2008 | Spanair Flight 5022 | McDonnell Douglas DC-9-82 (MD-82) | Madrid-Barajas Airport, runway 36L | 154: 148 passengers and 6 crew | LEVEL 3 Final report |
| 31 January 2000 | Alaska Airlines Flight 261 | McDonnell Douglas MD-83 | Pacific Ocean, about 2.7 miles north of Anacapa Island, California | 88 fatalities; no survivors | LEVEL 3 Final report |
| 1 June 1999 | American Airlines Flight 1420 | McDonnell Douglas DC-9-82 (MD-82) | Little Rock National Airport, Runway 4R | 11 fatalities | LEVEL 3 Final report |
| 2 September 1998 | Swissair Flight 111 | McDonnell Douglas MD-11 | Ocean about five nautical miles southwest of Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia | All 229 occupants fatally injured; no survivors | LEVEL 3 Final report |
| 19 July 1989 | United Airlines Flight 232 | McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10 | Sioux Gateway Airport, Sioux City, Iowa | 112 deaths overall; the report classifies 111 fatal | LEVEL 3 Final report |
| 25 May 1979 | American Airlines Flight 191 | McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10 | Open field and trailer park northwest of Chicago O'Hare runway 32R | 273: 271 aboard and two on the ground | LEVEL 3 Final report |
| 28 December 1978 | United Airlines Flight 173 | McDonnell-Douglas DC-8-61 | About 6 nautical miles east-southeast of Portland International Airport, Oregon | 10: 8 passengers and 2 crew | LEVEL 3 Final report |
| 3 March 1974 | Turkish Airlines Flight 981 | McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10 | Ermenonville forest, France | 346 fatalities | LEVEL 3 Final report |
Spanair Flight 5022
An MD-82 took off from Madrid with its flaps and slats retracted. The configuration warning stayed silent, and the aircraft stalled just above the runway.
Incident date:
LEVEL 3 Final report
Alaska Airlines Flight 261
Wear in a critical stabilizer mechanism became a loss of pitch control that the crew could not overcome.
Incident date:
LEVEL 3 Final report
American Airlines Flight 1420
A thunderstorm approach ended with an overrun when stopping capability was needed most.
Incident date:
LEVEL 3 Final report
Swissair Flight 111
A fire above the forward ceiling spread before its severity was recognised, disabling systems and making a safe landing impossible.
Incident date:
LEVEL 3 Final report
United Airlines Flight 232
An engine fragment disabled all three hydraulic systems, leaving thrust as the crew's main control tool.
Incident date:
LEVEL 3 Final report
American Airlines Flight 191
Maintenance damage led to engine-pylon separation, slat retraction and lost warnings during takeoff, leaving the crew without an adequate chance to prevent an asymmetric stall.
Incident date:
LEVEL 3 Final report
United Airlines Flight 173
A landing gear malfunction led to prolonged circling at Portland. Fuel exhaustion stopped all four engines before the aircraft could reach the runway.
Incident date:
LEVEL 3 Final report
Turkish Airlines Flight 981
A cargo door that appeared secured opened during climb. Rapid depressurisation collapsed the cabin floor and disabled controls routed beneath it, leaving the crew unable to recover.
Incident date:
LEVEL 3 Final report