​As prepared for delivery

Good morning. We are now in session.

I’m Jennifer Homendy, and I’m honored to serve as Chairwoman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Chair of this Board of Inquiry. I’m joined by my fellow Board Members Vice Chairman Michael Graham, Member Tom Chapman, and Member John DeLeeuw.

Together, we comprise the Board of Inquiry for this investigative hearing, the notice for which was published in the Federal Register on May 4, 2026.

I’d also like to introduce Mr. Chihoon Shin. In addition to serving as our Hearing Officer, Mr. Shin is the Investigator-in-Charge for this accident investigation.

Behind me is Mr. Eric Johnson, who will provide legal support.

For those who may not be familiar with the NTSB, we’re an independent federal agency charged by Congress with investigating every civil aviation accident in the United States and significant accidents and incidents in all other modes of transportation.

At the conclusion of our investigations, we issue an official determination regarding probable cause and, as appropriate, safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.

The NTSB also investigates certain incidents that present significant safety issues. The NTSB strives to accurately identify and report all relevant facts, conditions, and circumstances relating to each accident or incident it investigates.

When necessary, we hold investigative hearings. An investigative hearing allows the NTSB to gather sworn testimony from witnesses on issues identified by the investigative team for a specific accident or incident.

Investigative hearings are “fact-finding proceedings.” The purpose is to “receive all testimony and evidence that may be of aid in determining the probable cause of the transportation accident or incident.”

This hearing is a critical part of our ongoing investigation of the accident involving United Parcel Service (UPS) flight 2976, which crashed during takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Louisville, Kentucky, on November 4, 2025.

As a result of the accident, the three crewmembers aboard the airplane and 12 persons on the ground tragically lost their lives; this includes one person who succumbed to their injuries 51 days after the accident.

Twenty-three others on the ground at the time of the accident were injured physically. I say physical injuries because this accident undoubtedly caused “invisible injuries” that aren’t reflected in those numbers. Psychological and emotional trauma — from being physically injured, witnessing an accident, or losing a loved one — can have a profound impact on lives and livelihoods.

With that, I’d like to take a moment to address the survivors and the families and friends who lost loved ones in this tragedy. On behalf of everyone at the NTSB, please accept our heartfelt condolences and our deepest sympathies. I imagine today will be extremely difficult for each of you.

Please know that you and your loved ones are why we fight so hard for safety…why we are meeting for this investigative hearing. Because no one should ever suffer the pain and loss you feel today.

Several representatives from our Transportation Disaster Assistance team are here who can help connect you with support resources. Can our TDA colleagues stand?

I also want to thank the American Red Cross for being here. Volunteer mental health clinicians from the Red Cross will be available for the duration of this hearing to provide support.

I want to thank the first and second responders to this accident on behalf of the Board. Multiple organizations responded to the scene of this tragedy to support search-and-recovery efforts and assist in our investigative work. Thank you for your public service, your dedication, and your heart.

Now, let’s turn to the parties to the hearing. Federal regulations guide how we designate parties to an NTSB investigative hearing. They are: 

“[T]hose persons and organizations whose participation in the hearing is deemed necessary in the public interest and whose special knowledge will contribute to the development of pertinent evidence.”

The parties to this hearing have been designated in accordance with these regulations and selected for their technical expertise in their respective fields.

Parties are essential in helping us develop the facts around an investigation. We appreciate your valuable time and contributions.

As I call the name of each party, I ask the designated spokesperson to identify themselves and then introduce others at their table; please push the microphone button to talk and push it again when finished. In alphabetical order: 

• Boeing?
• Federal Aviation Administration?
• International Brotherhood of Teamsters – Airline Division?
• ST Engineering San Antonio Aerospace?
• United Parcel Service?

Thank you. As a reminder, only the designated party spokesperson may question the witnesses.

On behalf of the Board, I’d like to thank the witnesses testifying at this hearing in support of aviation safety.

Witnesses will be questioned under oath; they will remain under oath until the conclusion of the hearing.

A witness can be called to testify on either panel. Further, witnesses may be recalled for further questioning at any time during the hearing. As such, we ask that all witnesses be present for the entire hearing, unless they have coordinated in advance with the Hearing Officer.

The witnesses have been selected based on their ability to provide the best available information on safety issues pertinent to this investigation.

The witness list was agreed to by the parties to the hearing, NTSB staff serving on the technical panels, and the Board of Inquiry at a prehearing conference held last week, on May 12, here in the NTSB Board Room.

We have “pre-qualified” each witness by documenting their qualifications in writing. You may review each witness’s biographical information in the public docket, which opened to the public this morning.

I’d now like to provide a general overview of the hearing; those in the room may wish to refer to the printed agenda.

We expect the proceedings to conclude around 6:00 p.m. today. We’ll break for lunch and as needed throughout.

Tomorrow, we’ll begin promptly at 8:00 a.m. again and wrap up around 1:00 p.m. These times are approximate and we ask for everyone’s flexibility.

The specific issues we’ll explore at this hearing were finalized and agreed to at last week’s prehearing conference.

Today, we’ll start with Fleet Safety Processes. We’ll discuss the reporting processes for anomalies found during maintenance and inspections. Then, we’ll explore the Federal Aviation Administration and Boeing’s Continued Operational Safety program and processes and end with communications to operators after Continued Operational Safety determinations.

Tomorrow, we’ll discuss Pylon Design Requirements. First, we’ll delve into Federal Aviation Administration Part 25 design and certification requirements for pylon separation failure modes. Then, we’ll examine the design of aircraft systems routed through and near pylon attachment points.

The hearing process will be the same for both panels. After an introduction from Mr. Shin, we’ll move into witness testimony. The witnesses will be questioned in the following order:

• First, by the NTSB technical panel;
• Next, by the parties to the hearing; 
• And then, by the Board of Inquiry.

​I will then circle back to the technical panel for any remaining follow-up questions.

When it’s time for party questions, I’ll recognize each organization one by one. Each party will keep their questions to five minutes or less; we have a timer to help you stay on track.

Given that there are five parties to the hearing, we should have time to accommodate two rounds of questions per party. That goes for all topics on both panels.

If a party spokesperson has a concern regarding a question asked or wishes to discuss admissibility of an exhibit or the pertinence of proffered testimony, please raise your hand. After being recognized by me, you will have the opportunity to voice your concern.

I’ll consult with Mr. Johnson and, in accordance with our regulations, make all rulings on such matters; all rulings will be final.

A word about conduct. The Board does not permit cross-examination of witnesses in the legal sense — nor do we permit questions related to fault, outside litigation, or legal liability in general. Such questions are not relevant to the fact-finding purposes of an NTSB investigative hearing or our statutory mission.

This doesn’t mean difficult questions won’t be asked; they will be and should be. This is an investigation. We are here to improve safety. That is our sole focus.

I now recognize Mr. Shin, who will introduce the NTSB staff and the exhibits. 

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