UPS and FedEx have decided to ground their fleet of more than 50 McDonnell Douglas MD-11 cargo planes following a tragic crash in Louisville, Kentucky, that resulted in the loss of at least 14 lives.
On Tuesday, a UPS MD-11 caught fire shortly after taking off from Muhammad Ali International Airport, destined for Honolulu. Initially, three pilots were reported deceased, but as investigations progressed, the death toll rose to 14, as confirmed by Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg.
The MD-11 planes make up about 9% of UPS’s air fleet and around 4% of FedEx’s. A UPS spokesperson mentioned that this precautionary measure was taken at the recommendation of the aircraft’s manufacturer. “There is nothing more important to us than the safety of our employees and the communities we serve,” the statement read.
FedEx quickly announced that they would be activating contingency plans to maintain their delivery services and minimize any disruptions.
According to aviation experts, Western Global Airlines is currently the only other cargo airline in the U.S. that operates MD-11s; however, they have also placed 12 of these planes into storage. The MD-11 was phased out of production by Boeing back in 1998, with the last deliveries made in 2000.
The ill-fated UPS cargo plane, built in 1991, struggled to maintain control as it ascended just 100 feet above the runway, with flames erupting from its left wing. The crash tragically destroyed two nearby businesses.
Investigation updates revealed that a warning bell sounded in the cockpit as the plane took off, indicating a potential fire in the wing. This alarming signal lasted for 25 seconds, according to the voice recorder, often referred to as a black box. Fortunately, these devices are built to withstand extreme conditions and appear to have survived the crash.
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board has initiated an investigation into the cause of this devastating accident. Historical records indicate that the last significant crash involving UPS was in 2013, when an Airbus met with disaster in Birmingham, Alabama, claiming the lives of both crew members.
Authorities aim to uncover the circumstances surrounding this accident to ensure similar tragedies can be avoided in the future.
