UPS grounds all its MD-11 planes after deadly Louisville crash | US news
Cargo company UPS grounded its fleet of MD-11 planes days after a cargo plane crash killed at least 13 people in Kentucky.
The grounded MD-11s are the same type of plane involved in Tuesday’s crash in Louisville. They were originally built by McDonnell Douglas until purchased by Boeing.
UPS said Friday that the fleet was temporarily grounded “out of an abundance of caution and in the interest of safety.”
“The grounding is effective immediately. We took this decision proactively on the recommendation of the aircraft manufacturer,” the company said in a press release.
“Nothing is more important to us than the safety of our employees and the communities we serve. »
UPS said MD-11s make up about 9 percent of the UPS Airlines fleet.
“Contingency plans are in place to ensure we can continue to provide the reliable service our customers around the world rely on,” the statement said.
Thirteen people have been confirmed to have died in the crash in Louisville, including pilots Captain Richard Wartenberg, First Officer Lee Truitt and International Rescue Officer Captain Dana Diamond.
A federal investigator said the cargo plane’s left wing caught fire and an engine failed shortly after takeoff from Louisville’s Mohammed Ali International Airport, causing the plane to crash and explode into a fireball.
“Our hearts go out to all UPS users who have been impacted and everyone in our Louisville community – supporting you and ensuring you receive the care and resources you need is our priority,” the company said in an earlier statement.
The National Transportation Safety Board said it was investigating the maintenance history of the plane, which was in Texas for repairs in the weeks before the crash.
Reuters reported flight tracking data showing the plane was on the ground in San Antonio, Texas, from September 3 to October 18.
The cockpit voice recorder and data recorder were recovered, and the engine was found at the airfield.
The recorders – known as black boxes – were built to withstand crash impacts and the intense heat of fires, and they appeared intact when placed among the crash debris. Investigators plan to examine black box data.
With Reuters
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