Federal investigators released dramatic photos Thursday of an engine flying off a doomed UPS cargo plane that crashed two weeks ago, killing 14 people in Kentucky, and said there was evidence of cracks in the left wing’s engine mount.
The MD-11 plane only got 30 feet (9.1 meters) off the ground, the National Transportation Safety Board said, citing the flight data recorder in its first formal but preliminary report about the Nov. 4 disaster.
Three pilots on the plane were killed along with 11 more people on the ground near Muhammad Ali International Airport.
The NTSB stated that the aircraft was not yet due for a detailed inspection, needing nearly 7,000 more takeoffs and landings since its last check in October 2021. Aviation safety expert Jeff Guzzetti noted this raised questions about whether the inspection timelines are adequate.
A series of photos released by the NTSB illustrates the left engine detaching and flying over the wing, with one image capturing the plane airborne and ablaze.
Earlier, Bill Moore, president of UPS Airlines, confirmed that the company is cooperating with investigators to identify the “root cause” of the incident. Once we determine that, then they'll be able to develop an inspection plan, Moore stated, indicating a cautious approach to returning the fleet to service.
UPS has temporarily grounded its fleet of MD-11s and is utilizing alternate aircraft during the busy holiday season.
