UPS and FedEx ground all MD-11 planes after deadly Louisville crash | Plane crashes
Shipping companies UPS and FedEx grounded their fleets of MD-11 aircraft days after a cargo plane crash in Kentucky that killed 14 people.
The grounded MD-11s are the same type of aircraft involved in Tuesday’s crash at a UPS facility in Louisville. They were originally built by McDonnell Douglas until they were taken over by Boeing.
UPS said in a statement Friday that the fleet was temporarily grounded “out of an abundance of caution and for safety purposes.”
“The grounding will take effect immediately. We took this decision proactively upon the recommendation of the aircraft manufacturer,” the company said in a statement.
“Nothing is more important to us than the safety of our employees and the communities we serve.”
FedEx, meanwhile, said it would ground the plane while the company conducts a “thorough safety review in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendation.”
UPS and FedEx said MD-11s make up 9% and 4% of their fleets, respectively.
“Contingency plans are in place to ensure we can continue to provide the reliable service our customers around the world rely on,” UPS said in the statement.
Western Global Airlines is the only other U.S. cargo airline flying MD-11s, according to aviation analysis firm Cirium. The airline has 16 MD-11s in its fleet, but 12 of them are currently in storage. The company did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment after business hours early Saturday.
Fourteen people were confirmed dead in the crash in Louisville, including pilots Captain Richard Wartenberg, First Officer Lee Truitt, and International Assistance Officer Captain Dana Diamond. Officials said that while nine people were reported missing after the accident, they feared the death toll would increase.
A federal investigator said the cargo plane’s left wing caught fire and its engine fell out shortly after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali international airport, causing the plane to crash and burst into a ball of flames.
“Our hearts go out to all UPSers impacted and everyone in our Louisville community; it is our priority to support you and ensure you get the care and resources you need,” the company said in an earlier statement.
The National Transportation Safety Board said it was investigating the maintenance history of the plane, which was in Texas for repairs in the weeks before the crash.
Reuters reported flight tracking data showing the plane was on the ground in San Antonio, Texas, from September 3 to October 18. Flight records show the plane was undergoing maintenance at the time, but it is unclear what work was being done.
The cockpit voice recorder and data recorder were recovered and the engine was found at the airport. A federal investigator said the cockpit voice recorder captured a bell ringing in the cockpit.
The recorders, known as black boxes, were built to withstand impact impacts and intense heat from fires, and appeared intact when placed among crash debris. Investigators plan to examine the data in the black boxes.
The UPS facility where Tuesday’s accident occurred is the company’s largest package processing center. The facility employs more than 20,000 people in the region, operates 300 flights a day and sorts more than 400,000 packages per hour.
UPS Worldport operations resumed Wednesday night with a next-day air or overnight sorting operation, spokesman Jim Mayer said.
Reuters and Associated Press contributed reporting
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