UPS flight 2976 was operated by a McDonnell Douglas MD-11(F) registered N259UP. The aircraft was 34 years old and first delivered to Thai Airways International in 1991 for passenger service. It was converted to freighter configuration in 2006 and began service with UPS that same year. The aircraft is powered by three General Electric CF6-80C2D1F engines.
Engine type has a history of uncontained High Pressure Turbine (HPT) Stage 2 disc failure