US logistics companies UPS and FedEx have grounded their combined fleet of more than 50 McDonnell Douglas MD-11 cargo planes.
The decision, announced on Friday evening, followed a crash involving one of the planes at Louisville International Airport in Kentucky earlier that week, which killed at least 14 people.
“Out of an abundance of caution and in the interest of safety, we have made the decision to temporarily ground our MD-11 fleet,” UPS said in a statement.
“The grounding is effective immediately. We made this decision proactively at the recommendation of the aircraft manufacturer.”
Meanwhile, Boeing — which acquired the MD-11 program through its 1997 merger with McDonnell Douglas — also announced that it recommended UPS and FedEx suspend MD-11 freighter flight operations.
“This recommendation was made in an abundance of caution and we will continue coordinating with the FAA on this matter,” a Boeing spokesperson said.
What do we know about MD-11 crash?
The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation into the crash. Investigators determined that the accident occurred when one of the engines caught fire and detached from the plane during takeoff.
The plane reached an altitude of approximately 100 feet (30.5 meters) before plunging off the runway in flames, destroying two nearby businesses in the process.
On Friday, US safety investigators said the three UPS pilots attempted to regain control of the aircraft just before it crashed after a warning bell sounded in the cockpit.
The NTSB reported that the plane was built in 1991 and modified into a cargo aircraft. A preliminary report on the investigation is expected in about 30 days.
How many MD-11s are operated by UPS and FedEx?
The MD-11 was developed and initially produced by McDonnell Douglas Corporation, which merged with Boeing in 1997. Production of the MD-11 ceased in 2000, and its use for passenger service officially ended in 2014.
UPS and FedEx are the world’s largest cargo carriers. Prior to the crash, UPS had 27 MD-11s in its fleet, according to a UPS fact sheet. The company stated that its MD-11s comprise only about 9% of its fleet.
FedEx which has a fleet of 700 aircraft operates 28 MD-11s. The company said it is “immediately implementing contingency plans” to avoid disruptions.
Disruptions could have far-reaching consequences because FedEx and UPS transport goods for major retailers such as Amazon, Walmart, and Target, as well as manufacturers and businesses around the world.
Edited by: Karl Sexton
