The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued an immediate order halting the operation of MD-11 aircraft for inspection following a fatal crash involving a UPS cargo plane in Louisville, Ky. The tragic incident claimed the lives of at least 14 individuals. UPS and FedEx have voluntarily grounded their combined fleet of over 50 McDonnell Douglas MD-11 cargo planes after receiving guidance from Boeing, the aircraft manufacturer.
The FAA’s emergency airworthiness directive was prompted by the recent crash in which the left engine and pylon separated from the aircraft during takeoff. The cause of this detachment is currently under investigation, with the FAA warning that such a condition could jeopardize the safety of flight operations.
UPS has confirmed compliance with the FAA directive by grounding its 26 MD-11 planes, constituting approximately nine percent of its total fleet. Boeing has expressed its support for the FAA’s decision. The company inherited the MD-11 program following its merger with McDonnell Douglas in 1997.
Authorities anticipate that comprehensive engine and pylon inspections will be mandated by the FAA before permitting the MD-11 planes to resume operations. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board is spearheading the investigation into the crash of the 34-year-old MD-11 freighter at the Louisville airport. The incident, which involved three individuals on board, occurred during the plane’s departure for Honolulu from UPS’s global aviation hub.
According to Todd Inman from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, a significant fire erupted in the left wing shortly after takeoff. Airport surveillance footage indicates that the left engine dislodged from the wing during the takeoff roll. Despite the fire, the aircraft managed to gain enough altitude to clear the runway boundary before ultimately crashing. The massive plane was engulfed in flames, causing damage to nearby establishments.
U.S. safety investigators revealed on Friday that the three UPS pilots aboard the aircraft had made efforts to regain control of the plane just before the tragic crash.