 "UPS, FedEx ground MD-11 cargo jets after deadly Kentucky crash kills 14")
American delivery giants UPS and FedEx have temporarily grounded parts of their cargo fleets following a deadly plane crash in Kentucky that killed at least 14 people.
Both companies said on Friday that they had grounded their MD-11 aircraft after a UPS plane crashed during takeoff in Louisville earlier in the week. The move came on the recommendation of the aircraft’s manufacturer, Boeing, which absorbed McDonnell Douglas—the original maker of the MD-11—in the 1990s.
“With safety as our top priority, we recommended to the three operators of the MD-11 Freighter that they suspend flight operations while additional engineering analysis is performed,” Boeing said in a statement.
Fireball crash in Louisville
The UPS aircraft burst into flames after veering off the runway and hitting nearby buildings, sparking a massive fire that destroyed several structures and forced Louisville International Airport to close temporarily.
Officials said the death toll rose to 14 after another body was found in the wreckage. Search teams were still scouring burnt-out buildings for more victims.
“We pray for each of the victims’ families and pray that no additional victims are lost,” Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said.
Airlines act ‘out of caution’
UPS said grounding the MD-11s—about 9% of its fleet—was done “out of an abundance of caution” following Boeing’s advice. FedEx confirmed it had taken the same step.
“This recommendation was made in an abundance of caution and we will continue coordinating with the FAA on this matter,” a Boeing spokesperson told Reuters.
UPS and FedEx are the world’s largest cargo airlines, operating 27 and 28 MD-11 aircraft respectively. UPS said it had contingency plans to ensure deliveries continued uninterrupted.
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More Shorts“Nothing is more important to us than the safety of our employees and the communities we serve,” UPS said.
Ageing aircraft under scrutiny
The crashed plane was an MD-11F triple-engine freighter, first delivered 34 years ago to Thai Airways before being converted to cargo use by UPS in 2006. Production of MD-11s ended in 2000, and the last passenger version was retired in 2014.
According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the plane’s left engine caught fire and detached from the wing during takeoff. The aircraft was carrying 38,000 gallons (144,000 litres) of fuel for a flight to Hawaii, which fuelled the blaze after impact.
Investigators have not yet determined the exact cause of the crash.
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