LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — UPS has announced a temporary grounding of its MD-11 aircraft fleet following a devastating crash at its global aviation hub in Kentucky, which resulted in the loss of 14 lives, including three pilots. The decision comes as a proactive measure based on recommendations from the aircraft manufacturer, aiming to prioritize the safety of employees and the surrounding communities.
The MD-11s constitute approximately 9% of UPS's total airline fleet. The exact timeline for how long the grounding will be in effect has not yet been disclosed. Boeing, which acquired McDonnell Douglas (the manufacturer of the MD-11) in 1997, has not yet provided a detailed explanation regarding the recommendations made to UPS.
The crash occurred during takeoff from UPS Worldport in Louisville on a flight to Honolulu when an alarming bell rang in the cockpit approximately 37 seconds after takeoff thrust was called. Investigators noted that pilots struggled to control the aircraft, which had already lost its left engine and was engulfed in flames before ultimately crashing into the ground.
Todd Inman, a member of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), stated that although the cockpit voice recorder captured the distress signal, it would take months for the transcript to be made available. Jeff Guzzetti, a former federal crash investigator, surmised that the warning likely indicated an engine fire just as the crew had passed critical decision-making speed for aborting the takeoff. Dramatic video footage of the incident captures the plane crashing into nearby businesses and erupting in flames.
The UPS Worldport facility, the largest in the company, employs over 20,000 people, manages around 300 flights per day, and processes more than 400,000 packages hourly. Operations resumed for some services shortly after the incident, although a thorough investigation into the crash is ongoing.
The MD-11s constitute approximately 9% of UPS's total airline fleet. The exact timeline for how long the grounding will be in effect has not yet been disclosed. Boeing, which acquired McDonnell Douglas (the manufacturer of the MD-11) in 1997, has not yet provided a detailed explanation regarding the recommendations made to UPS.
The crash occurred during takeoff from UPS Worldport in Louisville on a flight to Honolulu when an alarming bell rang in the cockpit approximately 37 seconds after takeoff thrust was called. Investigators noted that pilots struggled to control the aircraft, which had already lost its left engine and was engulfed in flames before ultimately crashing into the ground.
Todd Inman, a member of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), stated that although the cockpit voice recorder captured the distress signal, it would take months for the transcript to be made available. Jeff Guzzetti, a former federal crash investigator, surmised that the warning likely indicated an engine fire just as the crew had passed critical decision-making speed for aborting the takeoff. Dramatic video footage of the incident captures the plane crashing into nearby businesses and erupting in flames.
The UPS Worldport facility, the largest in the company, employs over 20,000 people, manages around 300 flights per day, and processes more than 400,000 packages hourly. Operations resumed for some services shortly after the incident, although a thorough investigation into the crash is ongoing.
