Widow of UPS Pilot Sues After Deadly Crash, Says 'There Was No Other Like Him'

Donna Diamond is pursuing a wrongful death lawsuit against Boeing, General Electric, and VT San Antonio Aerospace over the death of her husband, UPS Captain Dana Diamond.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Months after a UPS MD-11 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, the widow of UPS Captain Dana Diamond, is suing Boeing, General Electric, and VT San Antonio Aerospace over her husband's death in the crash.

Why it matters

The tragic crash has left Donna Diamond a widow for the second time, and she is now fighting for accountability and justice over the loss of her husband, who she described as the 'one' for her. The case highlights the human toll of aviation accidents and the legal battles that can follow in their wake.

The details

Donna Diamond said her relationship with Dana Diamond moved quickly, but she felt certain from the start that he was 'the one.' She described the moment she realized something had happened, saying her family tried to stop her from seeing the news. On their Texas farm, Dana Diamond had become 'Paw-Paw' to seven grandchildren, a role Donna said meant a great deal to him. She is now clinging to the last message he sent her before the crash, a short text that has taken on new weight.

  • The UPS MD-11 crashed after departing UPS Worldport in Louisville, Kentucky.
  • Donna Diamond and Dana Diamond had just celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary in October.

The players

Donna Diamond

The widow of UPS Captain Dana Diamond, who is pursuing a wrongful death lawsuit over her husband's death in the crash.

Dana Diamond

A 62-year-old UPS Captain who was one of the three pilots who died in the crash of the UPS MD-11 after departing UPS Worldport in Louisville, Kentucky.

Boeing

One of the companies Donna Diamond is suing in her wrongful death lawsuit over the crash.

General Electric

One of the companies Donna Diamond is suing in her wrongful death lawsuit over the crash.

VT San Antonio Aerospace

One of the companies Donna Diamond is suing in her wrongful death lawsuit over the crash.

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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

Donna Diamond's wrongful death lawsuit against Boeing, General Electric, and VT San Antonio Aerospace is ongoing as she seeks accountability and justice over her husband's death in the UPS MD-11 crash.

The takeaway

The tragic loss of UPS Captain Dana Diamond has left his widow Donna Diamond devastated, but she is determined to fight for answers and hold the companies involved accountable through her wrongful death lawsuit. Her story highlights the profound human impact of aviation accidents and the complex legal battles that can follow in their wake.