US Grounds MD-11 Cargo Planes After Deadly Kentucky Crash
Federal aviation regulator issues emergency directive following the crash of an MD-11 cargo plane in Louisville, Kentucky.
The US civil aviation regulator ordered on Saturday that all MD-11 cargo planes remain grounded for inspections after one was involved in a deadly crash in Kentucky this week.
The McDonnell Douglas MD-11 aircraft operated by UPS exploded into flames upon crashing shortly after its departure from the airport in Louisville, resulting in at least 14 fatalities.
A three-person crew was aboard the plane.
Following the incident, both UPS and FedEx grounded their MD-11 fleets, with Boeing, the owner of McDonnell Douglas, recommending that all operators suspend flights pending additional engineering analysis.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an emergency directive prohibiting further flight until the aircraft is inspected and necessary corrective actions are performed.
This directive applies to the MD-11 and MD-11F models due to concerns over a potentially unsafe condition identified during takeoff, leading to the left-hand engine and pylon detachment.
UPS stated that it would temporarily ground its MD-11s out of safety concerns, noting that these planes represent about nine percent of their fleet.
FedEx also grounded its 28 MD-11 aircraft among its total of around 700 planes as part of a safety review.
McDonnell Douglas originally produced the MD-11 before being acquired by Boeing in 1997.
The crash occurred when the plane, carrying approximately 38,000 gallons of fuel intended for a long-haul flight to Hawaii, narrowly avoided hitting a Ford vehicle assembly plant that employs about 3,000 people.
Footage from the scene showed extensive debris and smoke as firefighters battled the fire.
Investigators identified the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder (commonly referred to as black boxes) and transported them to Washington for analysis.
The crash is reportedly the deadliest in UPS's history, given its major hub in Louisville where it employs thousands of people.
This aircraft was built in 1991 and modified into a cargo plane.
The incident comes during the longest government shutdown in US history, with concerns raised about potential chaos in air traffic control due to staffing shortages.
However, investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) were not aware of any such shortages at Louisville's airport at the time of the crash.
The McDonnell Douglas MD-11 aircraft operated by UPS exploded into flames upon crashing shortly after its departure from the airport in Louisville, resulting in at least 14 fatalities.
A three-person crew was aboard the plane.
Following the incident, both UPS and FedEx grounded their MD-11 fleets, with Boeing, the owner of McDonnell Douglas, recommending that all operators suspend flights pending additional engineering analysis.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an emergency directive prohibiting further flight until the aircraft is inspected and necessary corrective actions are performed.
This directive applies to the MD-11 and MD-11F models due to concerns over a potentially unsafe condition identified during takeoff, leading to the left-hand engine and pylon detachment.
UPS stated that it would temporarily ground its MD-11s out of safety concerns, noting that these planes represent about nine percent of their fleet.
FedEx also grounded its 28 MD-11 aircraft among its total of around 700 planes as part of a safety review.
McDonnell Douglas originally produced the MD-11 before being acquired by Boeing in 1997.
The crash occurred when the plane, carrying approximately 38,000 gallons of fuel intended for a long-haul flight to Hawaii, narrowly avoided hitting a Ford vehicle assembly plant that employs about 3,000 people.
Footage from the scene showed extensive debris and smoke as firefighters battled the fire.
Investigators identified the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder (commonly referred to as black boxes) and transported them to Washington for analysis.
The crash is reportedly the deadliest in UPS's history, given its major hub in Louisville where it employs thousands of people.
This aircraft was built in 1991 and modified into a cargo plane.
The incident comes during the longest government shutdown in US history, with concerns raised about potential chaos in air traffic control due to staffing shortages.
However, investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) were not aware of any such shortages at Louisville's airport at the time of the crash.
