One month later: Deadly UPS crash leaves lasting mark on Louisville community

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — It has been one month since the deadly UPS plane crash, and while the smoke has cleared, the pain and questions remain.

The MD-11 aircraft involved in the crash remains grounded under FAA orders, a visible reminder of the tragedy that claimed 14 lives.

The crash occurred on Nov. 4, when black smoke filled the sky as the sun set. Snow now covers the site where flames once burned, but for the families of the victims, life has not moved forward.

We’ve heard their stories, piece by piece.

Trina Chavez, the oldest of nine, was remembered as a sister who traded her own dreams so her siblings could chase theirs.

"She stood up for us, protected us, looked out for us... I am where I am today because of Trinadette Chavez," said Gabriela Hermosillo-Nunez, Chavez’s sister.

Angela Anderson was remembered for supporting her long-term boyfriend through his darkest days.

"You couldn't get a better woman, I'll never find one like her," said Donald Henderson, Anderson’s boyfriend.

Eleven of the victims worked at or visited Grade A Auto Parts, where employees were known by name. Owner Sean Garber said he has attended nearly every funeral since the crash.

"Our employees came in that day with the expectation of leaving," Garber said.

Grade A Auto Parts was destroyed, and more than 90 surrounding businesses remain closed.

"A month of a business being shut down — most small businesses can't survive that long," said Brandon Smith, a nearby business owner.

The NTSB’s preliminary report, released last month, found fatigue cracks and overstress failure in the left engine pylon of the 34-year-old MD-11 plane. Several lawsuits related to the crash are already moving forward.

On Nov. 4, many families spent hours unsure of their loved ones’ fates.

"She’s all I got. I don't know how this is going to turn out," Henderson said at the Victim Reunification Center on the night of the crash.

Now, he and 13 other families know the outcome, and their lives have been irrevocably changed.

Louisville Emergency Management Services said clean-up crews are still working around the clock, with no set timeline for completion.

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