Two US Cargo Carriers Ground All MD-11 Aircraft After Deadly Louisville Crash
UPS and FedEx have temporarily grounded their entire fleet of McDonnell Douglas MD-11 cargo planes following a fatal crash in Louisville, Kentucky, that killed at least 14 people. This move may disrupt global goods transportation, as these carriers are crucial for retailers like Amazon and various manufacturers.
Details of the Incident
A UPS MD-11 crashed shortly after takeoff from Louisville’s international airport on Tuesday, catching fire immediately. The cause of the crash is still under investigation, while the death toll reached 14, confirmed by Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg on social media.
Fleet Grounding Decisions
Both UPS and FedEx issued statements indicating the grounding was done “out of an abundance of caution.” FedEx operates 28 MD-11 aircraft, and UPS had 27 in its fleet before the accident.
“We made this decision proactively at the recommendation of the aircraft manufacturer,” said UPS.
Boeing, which took over the MD-11 program after merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997, recommended suspending the MD-11 freighter flights in an official statement.
Implications
- The suspension impacts over 50 aircraft in total.
- Potential disruptions could affect global supply chains reliant on these cargo planes.
Photo Credit
Image of a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 similar to the grounded fleet by Byorn Strey (CC BY-SA 2.0).
Photo: Byorn Strey - CC BY-SA 2.0
Author's summary: After a fatal Louisville crash, UPS and FedEx have grounded over 50 MD-11 cargo planes, potentially disrupting global freight networks as investigations continue.
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