Listen to the article
Federal aviation authorities on Saturday grounded all McDonnell Douglas MD-11 aircraft pending inspection, following a deadly crash at UPS’s global aviation hub in Louisville, Kentucky. The Federal Aviation Administration’s directive formalized decisions already made by major carriers UPS and FedEx, who had proactively parked their MD-11 fleets a day earlier.
The FAA’s emergency order cited serious safety concerns after the Louisville accident, in which the plane’s left engine detached during takeoff. “This condition could result in loss of continued safe flight and landing,” the agency stated, warning that the issue “is likely to exist or develop in other products of the same design.”
Tuesday’s crash at UPS Worldport claimed 14 lives, including the three pilots aboard the Honolulu-bound cargo plane. The accident has sent ripples through the air cargo industry, temporarily removing a significant portion of two major carriers’ fleets from service. MD-11 aircraft comprise approximately 9% of UPS’s airline fleet and 4% of FedEx’s operations.
“We made this decision proactively at the recommendation of the aircraft manufacturer,” UPS said in a statement. “Nothing is more important to us than the safety of our employees and the communities we serve.” FedEx similarly announced it was conducting “a thorough safety review based on the recommendation of the manufacturer.”
Boeing, which acquired McDonnell Douglas in 1997, recommended that all three U.S. operators of the MD-11 Freighter suspend operations while engineers conduct additional analysis. Besides UPS and FedEx, Western Global Airlines is the only other U.S. cargo carrier operating MD-11s, with four currently in service and 12 others already in storage, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium.
The MD-11 has been out of production for more than two decades. Boeing announced in 1998 that it would phase out the aircraft, with final deliveries completed in 2000. The aging plane involved in Tuesday’s crash was built in 1991.
National Transportation Safety Board member Todd Inman revealed Friday that the UPS flight encountered problems almost immediately after takeoff. A warning bell sounded in the cockpit approximately 37 seconds after the crew requested takeoff thrust. For the next 25 seconds, pilots struggled to control the aircraft as it barely lifted off the runway, with its left wing ablaze and missing an engine, before crashing in a catastrophic fireball.
Investigators have not yet determined why the bell rang, though they confirmed the left wing was burning and the engine had detached. A full transcript of the cockpit voice recorder won’t be released for months, as part of the standard investigation process.
Jeff Guzzetti, a former federal crash investigator not involved in this case, suggested the bell likely signaled an engine fire. “It occurred at a point in the takeoff where they were likely past their decision speed to abort the takeoff,” Guzzetti told The Associated Press. “They were likely past their critical decision speed to remain on the runway and stop safely… They’ll need to thoroughly investigate the options the crew may or may not have had.”
Multiple videos from phones, vehicles, and security cameras captured the accident from different angles, providing investigators with substantial visual evidence. Flight records indicate the aircraft had undergone maintenance while grounded in San Antonio for more than a month until mid-October, though specific details about that maintenance remain unclear.
The crash occurred at UPS Worldport, the company’s largest global hub. This massive operation employs over 20,000 people in the Louisville region, handles 300 flights daily, and processes more than 400,000 packages hourly. Despite Tuesday’s tragedy, Worldport operations resumed Wednesday night, beginning with the company’s Next Day Air night sort.
The grounding of MD-11s represents a significant operational challenge for UPS and FedEx, particularly as the holiday shipping season approaches. However, both companies have emphasized that safety remains their paramount concern as the investigation continues.
Fact Checker
Verify the accuracy of this article using The Disinformation Commission analysis and real-time sources.
11 Comments
I wonder if this incident will accelerate the transition away from legacy aircraft like the MD-11 towards more modern, fuel-efficient cargo planes. The air cargo industry is constantly evolving.
This is a setback for UPS and FedEx, who have relied heavily on the MD-11. But safety must come first. Hopefully the investigation provides clear answers and a path forward.
Agreed. The companies will need to work closely with regulators and the manufacturer to resolve this issue as quickly as possible.
Tragic loss of life. My heart goes out to the loved ones of the crew. The FAA is right to take a cautious approach until the root cause is identified and addressed.
The air cargo industry relies heavily on the MD-11, so this grounding will likely have ripple effects across supply chains. Curious to see how UPS and FedEx adapt their operations during this disruption.
Good point. These major carriers will need to find creative solutions to maintain service levels while the MD-11s are grounded.
This incident serves as a somber reminder of the importance of rigorous aircraft maintenance and safety protocols. My condolences to the families of the crew who tragically lost their lives.
Tragic news about the MD-11 crash. Safety should always be the top priority for cargo and passenger flights. Grounding the fleet until the issue is fully understood and addressed is the prudent move.
Agreed. Investigating the root cause and ensuring airworthiness is critical before returning these planes to service.
Kudos to the FAA for acting swiftly to ground the MD-11 fleet. It’s better to err on the side of caution when dealing with potential safety issues on commercial aircraft.
Absolutely. The FAA’s mandate to ensure air travel safety should take priority over operational or financial concerns.