The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a directive mandating the grounding of all MD-11 cargo planes for inspections following a fatal crash involving a UPS-operated McDonnell Douglas MD-11 aircraft in Kentucky. The incident occurred when the plane caught fire and crashed shortly after takeoff from Louisville airport, resulting in the tragic loss of at least 14 lives with a three-person crew on board.
Both UPS and FedEx have taken precautionary measures by grounding their MD-11 fleets, with Boeing, the parent company of McDonnell Douglas, advising all operators to suspend the use of these planes. The emergency directive specifically targets the MD-11 and MD-11F models due to concerns raised after an accident where the left-hand engine and pylon detached during takeoff. The FAA emphasized the potential for similar safety issues in other aircraft of the same design.
UPS announced the temporary grounding of its MD-11s, which make up around nine percent of its fleet, while FedEx confirmed grounding its 28 MD-11s out of a total of approximately 700 aircraft for safety evaluations. The decision to ground the planes was based on recommendations from the manufacturer, Boeing, which urged operators to halt flight operations pending further engineering analysis.
Western Global Airlines is currently the only other carrier utilizing the MD-11 aircraft. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear expressed condolences for the victims and called for prayers for the affected families and the Louisville community. The crash site, near a Ford vehicle assembly plant, witnessed a massive fuel-filled explosion narrowly missing the plant’s employees.
Aerial footage captured the aftermath of the crash, showing extensive debris and firefighters extinguishing the flames. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed the recovery of the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder for analysis in Washington. The tragic incident marks one of the deadliest in UPS history, with the company’s primary hub in Louisville, known as Worldport, employing a significant workforce.
Despite the ongoing government shutdown impacting air traffic control operations, NTSB representatives indicated no knowledge of staffing shortages at Louisville airport during the crash. The MD-11 involved in the accident was a 1991 cargo aircraft conversion, highlighting the need for thorough safety assessments in the aviation industry.