Wife of UPS pilot files lawsuit after deadly Louisville plane crash

Donna Diamond sues Boeing, GE and VT San Antonio Aerospace over alleged negligence that led to her husband's death.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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The wife of a senior UPS pilot who was killed in a plane crash last year in Louisville has filed a lawsuit against the companies that manufactured the plane and its engines. Donna Diamond claims the companies' negligent actions and products caused the wrongful death of her husband, Dana Diamond, one of the three pilots on board the MD-11 aircraft that crashed shortly after takeoff in November 2025, killing all three crew members and 12 people on the ground.

Why it matters

This lawsuit highlights the ongoing legal fallout from the deadly Louisville plane crash, which raised concerns about aircraft maintenance and safety. The crash led to the grounding of the MD-11 fleet and UPS retiring its MD-11 planes, underscoring the broader impact on the aviation industry.

The details

The lawsuit claims that General Electric, who manufactured the plane's engines, should have known the engines "were in disrepair or were otherwise dangerous and unsafe." It also alleges that VT San Antonio Aerospace, which performed maintenance on the plane, failed "to detect an unsafe condition" during its inspection. Additionally, the lawsuit claims Boeing knew the MD-11F aircraft "was in disrepair or was otherwise dangerous and unsafe" but failed to adequately care for the plane.

  • The plane crashed on November 4, 2025, shortly after takeoff from Muhammad Ali International Airport in Louisville.
  • The lawsuit was filed on February 26, 2026.

The players

Donna Diamond

The wife of Dana Diamond, the senior UPS pilot who was killed in the plane crash.

Boeing

The American aerospace company that manufactured the MD-11 aircraft involved in the crash.

General Electric

The American multinational conglomerate that manufactured the engines of the MD-11 aircraft.

VT San Antonio Aerospace

The company that performed maintenance on the MD-11 aircraft prior to the crash.

Dana Diamond

The senior UPS pilot who was killed in the plane crash, with over 37 years of experience at the company.

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What they’re saying

“When an engine separates from a wing seconds after takeoff, that's not an accident, that's a failure by the companies responsible for building and maintaining that aircraft.”

— Mark Lanier, Lead attorney for Donna Diamond (kentucky.com)

“Dana was passionate about pilot safety and devoted to his family, friends and community. This tragedy was an absolute betrayal of everything Dana stood for and the professional and personal contributions he made in his life.”

— Sam Taylor, Senior litigation counsel with The Lanier Law Firm (kentucky.com)

What’s next

The lawsuit is seeking unspecified punitive damages and a trial by jury, but there is no scheduled hearing date yet.

The takeaway

This lawsuit underscores the ongoing legal and regulatory scrutiny surrounding the deadly Louisville plane crash, as the victims' families seek accountability and changes to improve aircraft safety and maintenance practices across the aviation industry.