Widow of UPS pilot sues after deadly crash, says he was 'no other like him'

Donna Diamond is suing Boeing, General Electric and VT San Antonio Aerospace over the death of her husband, UPS Captain Dana Diamond, who was 62.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Months after a UPS MD-11 plane crashed after departing UPS Worldport in Louisville, Kentucky, the widow of one of the three pilots who died is speaking out and pursuing a wrongful death lawsuit. Donna Diamond is suing the manufacturers of the plane over the death of her husband, UPS Captain Dana Diamond, who was 62. Donna Diamond said their relationship moved fast, but she felt certain from the start that he was "the one" and that "there's no other like him."

Why it matters

This case highlights the devastating impact of the tragic UPS plane crash on the families of the victims, particularly the widows left behind. It also raises questions about the safety and reliability of the MD-11 aircraft involved in the incident.

The details

On November 4th, an MD-11 plane crashed as it left UPS Worldport at Muhammad Ali International Airport, killing all 15 people on board. Among them was 62-year-old Captain Dana Diamond, Donna Diamond's husband of just over 10 years. Donna Diamond said she was devastated when she saw the news of the crash, with her son trying to shield her from seeing the reports. Now a widow for the second time, Donna said the loss has been especially difficult because of how closely she and Dana lived their lives together, doing everything from grocery shopping to hair appointments.

  • On November 4th, an MD-11 plane crashed as it left UPS Worldport at Muhammad Ali International Airport, killing 15 people.
  • Donna Diamond and Dana Diamond had just celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary in October.

The players

Donna Diamond

The widow of UPS pilot Dana Diamond, who is suing the manufacturers of the MD-11 plane involved in the fatal crash.

Dana Diamond

A 62-year-old UPS pilot who was killed in the November 4th plane crash. He had worked as a UPS pilot for 37 years and was close to retirement.

Boeing

One of the manufacturers Donna Diamond is suing over the wrongful death of her husband.

General Electric

One of the manufacturers Donna Diamond is suing over the wrongful death of her husband.

VT San Antonio Aerospace

One of the manufacturers Donna Diamond is suing over the wrongful death of her husband.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We knew, we married very quickly. We knew he was the one. I mean, he probably was the one in my life. I mean, there's no other like him.”

— Donna Diamond (WLKY)

“My son was here, and I was running to my iPad, and he said, 'Don't look, mama.' And I looked, and I saw the crash. I didn't see the plane, but it said SDF to Honolulu and, you know, I just hit the floor in the kitchen. And I just laid there, just screaming and screaming.”

— Donna Diamond (WLKY)

“Dana, just over 10 years. I feel like I've spent more time and less married because we did everything. I mean, he went to my hair appointments, grocery shopping, we did everything together. And so this has been really hard.”

— Donna Diamond (WLKY)

“He never had any children. And he always thanked me, you know, like I was doing him a favor. I mean, he did us a favor.”

— Donna Diamond (WLKY)

“My kids always teased us, like we were like teenagers. We were fighting early, fussing or, you know, we were like, teenagers, and, I mean, we were on the phone all the time. Even when he was away.”

— Donna Diamond (WLKY)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Donna Diamond to proceed with her lawsuit against the manufacturers of the MD-11 plane.

The takeaway

This tragic case highlights the immense personal toll of the UPS plane crash on the families of the victims, particularly the widows left behind. It also raises important questions about the safety and reliability of the aircraft involved, which Donna Diamond is now seeking accountability for through the legal system.