Listen to the article
Federal investigators examining the deadly UPS cargo plane crash in Kentucky have discovered that one of the aircraft’s engines detached during takeoff, a critical finding that will shape the ongoing investigation.
The Tuesday crash in Louisville killed at least 12 people and injured nearly 20 others when the aircraft burst into flames after departing from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear confirmed Wednesday that several individuals remained unaccounted for as rescue crews continued searching through the wreckage in an industrial zone adjacent to the airport.
The National Transportation Safety Board’s initial findings revealed that the plane’s left wing caught fire during takeoff roll, followed by the engine separating from the aircraft. Todd Inman from the NTSB noted that the detached engine was discovered beside the runway after the accident.
The McDonnell Douglas MD-11 involved in the incident was manufactured in 1991 and featured three engines—one mounted on each wing and a third in the tail. Aviation experts suggest the plane should theoretically have been capable of taking off even with one engine inoperative or missing. However, John Cox, CEO of Florida-based aviation consulting firm Safety Operating Systems, explained that this capability would be compromised if another engine was damaged or if the aircraft sustained other significant structural damage.
The incident bears troubling similarities to a catastrophic crash that occurred nearly five decades ago. In 1979, at Chicago’s O’Hare airport, 273 people perished when the same model of General Electric engines detached from an American Airlines aircraft. Investigators ultimately
Fact Checker
Verify the accuracy of this article using The Disinformation Commission analysis and real-time sources.
10 Comments
This is a sobering reminder of the importance of thorough aircraft inspections and maintenance. Kudos to the NTSB for the rapid investigation, but tragic that it took a crash for these issues to come to light.
Agreed. Hopefully the NTSB recommendations can spur industry-wide improvements to prevent similar incidents in the future. Safety must always be the top priority in aviation.
As a frequent air cargo shipper, this incident is alarming. Hoping the NTSB can quickly identify the root cause and implement measures to enhance safety standards across the industry.
Very sad to hear about the loss of life. My heart goes out to the victims’ families. Proper investigation and any necessary changes to procedures or aircraft design are crucial to prevent similar tragedies.
Agreed. Aviation safety must be the top priority, even if it means implementing costly upgrades or operational changes. The public deserves to have full confidence in air cargo transport.
Tragic incident. Investigations will be critical to determine the exact cause and ensure air cargo safety standards are reviewed. My condolences to the families affected.
Agreed. Plane crashes are always devastating. Hoping the NTSB can uncover what went wrong to prevent future accidents.
The engine separation during takeoff is a concerning finding. Glad the authorities are conducting a thorough investigation to understand the technical issues. Safety has to be the top priority.
Absolutely. Even with redundancies, the failure of a critical component like an engine can have catastrophic consequences. Rigorous maintenance and oversight are essential in the aviation industry.
While the plane’s design may have been capable of taking off on two engines, the engine separation clearly caused a catastrophic failure. Rigorous maintenance protocols and robust oversight are essential to uphold air safety standards.