The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a directive on Saturday halting MD-11 aircraft from flying until inspected, following a fatal UPS cargo plane crash in Louisville, Ky., which claimed the lives of at least 14 individuals earlier in the week. UPS and FedEx have voluntarily grounded their combined fleet of over 50 McDonnell Douglas MD-11 cargo planes after Boeing recommended the action.
The FAA’s urgent airworthiness directive was triggered by the crash on Tuesday, where the left engine and pylon separated from the aircraft during takeoff. The cause of this detachment is currently under investigation, with the U.S. regulator warning that it could jeopardize safe flight and landing.
UPS confirmed compliance with the FAA directive by grounding its 26 MD-11 planes, constituting about nine percent of its total fleet. Boeing has expressed support for the FAA order, having gained the MD-11 program through its merger with McDonnell Douglas in 1997.
Authorities anticipate that the FAA will mandate thorough engine and pylon inspections before permitting the 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 airport, carrying three individuals, which occurred as it was departing for Honolulu from UPS’s aviation hub in Louisville.
Todd Inman from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board disclosed that significant fire erupted in the left wing after takeoff, with airport security footage capturing the left engine detaching from the wing during the roll. Despite reaching sufficient altitude to clear the runway fence, the plane ultimately crashed, engulfed in flames that spread to nearby establishments. Recent revelations from U.S. safety investigators indicate that the three UPS pilots aboard attempted to regain control of the aircraft just before the tragic incident.