The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a directive on Saturday temporarily grounding MD-11 planes for inspection following a fatal UPS cargo freighter crash in Louisville, Ky., where at least 14 people died. UPS and FedEx have complied with the directive, grounding their combined fleet of over 50 McDonnell Douglas MD-11 cargo planes based on Boeing’s recommendation.
The emergency airworthiness directive from the FAA was prompted by the crash on Tuesday, during which the left engine and pylon detached from the aircraft during takeoff. The cause of the detachment is currently under investigation, with the FAA highlighting the potential risk of loss of safe flight and landing due to this condition.
UPS confirmed that it has grounded its 26 MD-11 planes, accounting for approximately nine percent of its fleet, in line with the directive. Boeing expressed its support for the FAA’s order and noted its acquisition of the MD-11 program through a merger with McDonnell Douglas in 1997.
Officials indicated that comprehensive engine and pylon inspections are likely to be mandated by the FAA before permitting the aircraft to resume service. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation into the crash, which involved a 34-year-old MD-11 freighter departing from UPS’s aviation hub in Louisville bound for Honolulu.
Witnesses described the crash as catastrophic, with a large fire erupting in the left wing shortly after takeoff, leading to the left engine detachment captured on airport security footage. Despite the fire, the plane managed to gain enough altitude to clear the runway fence before crashing. The intense flames engulfed the aircraft and spread to nearby buildings.
Safety investigators revealed that the UPS pilots attempted to regain control of the plane just before the crash. The FAA is expected to continue inspections and investigations before allowing the MD-11 planes to return to service.