Fatal UPS crash new horror photos show engine ripping off | US | News
Federal investigators have released disturbing photos of an engine breaking loose from an ill-fated UPS cargo plane that crashed in Kentucky two weeks ago, killing 14 people. Pictures show fractures in the engine mount of the left wing.
A series of six photos show the rear of the engine beginning to separate before rising above the wing amid an explosion of flames. An image can be seen of the wing being engulfed by flames as the burning engine climbs to the ceiling. In the last photo, it can be seen that the plane started to take off. However, the MD-11 plane only managed to climb to 30 feet (9.1 meters) above the ground, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.
This detail was taken from the flight data recorder and was included in the first preliminary report on the disaster that occurred in Louisville, Kentucky, on November 4.
The crash killed the three pilots on board and 11 more people on the ground near Muhammad Ali International Airport.
The NTSB noted that a comprehensive examination of the plane’s key engine mounting parts, which had cracks, was not yet planned. Approximately 7,000 additional takeoffs and landings were still required.
His last inspection took place in October 2021.
“It appears that UPS performed this maintenance within the required time frame, but I’m sure the FAA will now consider whether that time frame was sufficient,” former federal accident investigator Jeff Guzzetti said after the report was released. The origin of the cracks in the 34-year-old plane and whether they were missed in an earlier inspection remain unclear.
Another aviation expert, John Cox, described fatigue cracks as “normal wear and tear on the aircraft.”
He explained that a metal component such as the engine mount, where the aircraft vibrates with each flight, will inevitably develop cracks over time. Cox emphasized that inspection frequency and required maintenance are important considerations.
The NTSB report revealed the first new details since board member Todd Inman briefed reporters on Nov. 7. He explained that the cockpit voice recorder detected an alarm going off about 37 seconds after the UPS crew requested takeoff thrust.
Sean Garber, who reviewed the report and whose car recovery site near the airport was directly affected, described the incident as a man-made tragedy caused by human error.
All MD-11s and a handful of related DC-10s operated by UPS, FedEx, and Western Global were grounded after the crash until they could be examined and repaired. But the Federal Aviation Administration has not yet specified what will be required.
Cox suggested that these air carriers “will have to make some difficult decisions” given their current plans to retire these aircraft in the coming years.
“If you have to remove the engines for a visual inspection or replacement, this will incur significant cost,” he warned.
MD-11 aircraft make up about 9% of the UPS fleet and 4% of the FedEx fleet, according to the companies.
Earlier this week, Bill Moore, president of UPS Airlines, a division of UPS, announced that the company was cooperating with investigators to determine the root cause of the crash.
