US logistics companies UPS and FedEx have grounded their combined fleet of more than 50 McDonnell Douglas MD-11 cargo planes.
The decision, announced Friday evening, comes after a plane crashed at Louisville International Airport in Kentucky earlier that week, killing at least 14 people.
“Out of an abundance of caution and in the interest of safety, we have decided to temporarily ground our MD-11 fleet,” UPS said in a statement.
“The grounding is effective immediately. We made this decision proactively on the recommendation of the aircraft manufacturer.”
Meanwhile, Boeing – which acquired the MD-11 program through a merger with McDonnell Douglas in 1997 – also announced that it has recommended UPS and FedEx suspend MD-11 cargo flight operations.
A Boeing spokesperson said, “This recommendation was made out of an abundance of caution and we will continue to coordinate with the FAA on this matter.”
What do we know about the MD-11 crash?
The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation into the accident. Investigators determined that the accident occurred when an engine caught fire during takeoff and separated from the aircraft.
The plane reached a height of about 100 feet (30.5 m) before bursting into flames and falling off the runway, destroying two nearby businesses.
On Friday, US safety investigators said three UPS pilots attempted to regain control of the plane just before it crashed after a warning bell sounded in the cockpit.
The NTSB reported that the plane was built in 1991 and had been converted to a cargo plane. 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 freight carriers. Before the accident, UPS had 27 MD-11s in its fleet, according to a UPS fact sheet. The company said its MD-11s account for only 9% of its fleet.
FedEx, which has a fleet of 700 aircraft, operates 28 MD-11s. The company said it was “immediately implementing contingency plans” to avoid disruptions.
The disruptions could have far-reaching consequences as FedEx and UPS transport goods for major retailers like Amazon, Walmart and Target, as well as manufacturers and businesses around the world.
Edited by: Carl Sexton