UPS and FedEx are temporarily grounding all of their McDonnell Douglas MD-11 cargo aircraft, following Tuesday’s plane crash in Louisville, Ky., that 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 posted late Friday on its website, adding that the grounding, which impacts about 9% of the UPS Airlines fleet, was effective immediately.
“We made this decision proactively at the recommendation of the aircraft manufacturer,” the company said. “Nothing is more important to us than the safety of our employees and the communities we serve.”
In a statement to the Daily News on Saturday, a FedEx spokesperson confirmed the company had also decided to immediately ground its MD-11 fleet “as we conduct a thorough safety review based on the recommendation of the manufacturer.”
Both companies say they have contingency plans in place to minimize service disruptions.
Boeing, the aircraft maker, said in a statement Friday that it had recommended the three operators of the MD-11 Freighter “suspend flight operations while additional engineering analysis is performed.”
Western Global Airlines also operates the cargo aircraft, according to Flightradar24. The last passenger MD-11 was retired from service in 2014.
The announcement comes just days after a fully fueled UPS plane crashed during takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport shortly after 5 p.m. Tuesday, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.
The Honolulu-bound flight was attempting to depart UPS Worldport, the company’s global shipping hub in Louisville, when the plane’s left engine fell off and the aircraft exploded in a giant fireball. Black box data later revealed it reached an altitude of 475 feet at 210 mph before diving back to the ground.
The MD-11, in preparation for its approximately 8.5-hour direct flight, was carrying 38,000 gallons of jet fuel at the time. The crash triggered a chain of explosions and fires as the plane careened through several businesses and lots near Louisville’s airport, leaving a half-mile-long path of destruction.
All three pilots onboard died in the crash. They’ve since been identified as Richard Wartenberg, Lee Truitt and Dana Diamond. Wartenberg was the captain, Truitt was second-in-command and Diamond was the relief captain, UPS said in a statement on Thursday.
Several other fatalities were confirmed in the days following the crash, including the death of at least one child.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear took to social media Friday night for another somber update.
“Folks, we’ve got more sad news to share,” Beshear posted on X. “Another victim of the plane crash in Louisville has been located, bringing the total fatalities to at least 14.”
Additional people remain missing and the death toll is expected to rise as crews continue combing through the massive piles of mangled metal and debris.
