UPS and FedEx Ground MD-11 Fleets Following Louisville Crash
LOUISVILLE, KY – Both UPS and FedEx have grounded their fleets of McDonnell Douglas MD-11 aircraft following a fiery crash of a UPS cargo plane at Louisville International Airport on Wednesday. The crash, which occurred as the plane was attempting takeoff, has prompted investigations into the cause of the incident and a precautionary measure by both companies.
The UPS plane, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 built in 1991, experienced a bell sounding in the cockpit shortly before impact, according to National transportation Safety Board (NTSB) member Todd Inman. The bell rang for 25 seconds as pilots attempted to control the aircraft, which was ablaze and missing an engine on its left wing, before it crashed into the ground. The cockpit voice recorder captured the alarm approximately 37 seconds after the crew initiated takeoff thrust. Investigators are currently working to determine the meaning of the alarm and its connection to the engine failure and fire.
Dramatic video footage from multiple sources depicts the aircraft crashing into nearby businesses and erupting in flames.
The downed aircraft had undergone maintenance in San Antonio for over a month,concluding in mid-October,though the specifics of the work performed remain unclear.
UPS worldport, the company’s largest facility employing over 20,000 people and handling 300 flights and over 400,000 packages hourly, partially resumed operations Wednesday night with its Next Day Air service.
Former federal crash investigator jeff Guzzetti suggested the bell likely signaled the engine fire, noting the pilots may have been past the point of safely aborting takeoff. “They were likely past their critical decision speed to remain on the runway and stop safely,” Guzzetti told the Associated Press. “They’ll need to thoroughly investigate the options the crew may or may not have had.”
The NTSB inquiry is expected to take months before a transcript of the cockpit recording is released.
