Several freighter airlines are grounding their fleets of MD-11F after the left engine of an aircraft caught fire during takeoff and immediately got detached.
UPS has temporarily grounded all 26 of its McDonnell Douglas MD-11 freighters — about 9% of its fleet — following the Nov. 6 crash in Louisville, Kentucky, that killed at least 14 people, including three crew members.
The jet, bound for Honolulu, reportedly lost its No. 1 engine on takeoff before crashing and exploding near the airport. UPS says the grounding, effective immediately, was made “out of an abundance of caution and at the recommendation of the aircraft manufacturer.” The company has activated contingency plans to maintain operations, emphasizing that “nothing is more important than the safety of our employees and the communities we serve.”
UPS pulled one of their MD-11F that was configured exactly like the one that was involved in the accident so investigators could study all aspects of the airplane from the airframe to the cockpit.
FedEx Express has also grounded its fleet of 26 McDonnell Douglas MD-11F cargo aircraft following the manufacturer’s recommendation. The airline plans to retire the type by 2032, replacing it with Boeing 767-300Fs and 777Fs.
“Safety is our highest priority at FedEx. Out of an abundance of caution, we have made the decision to immediately ground our MD-11 fleet as we conduct a thorough safety review based on the recommendation of the manufacturer. We are implementing contingency plans across our network to minimize disruptions while maintaining the highest standards of safety and service.” FedEx statement said.
