UPS to retire entire fleet of MD-11 planes after deadly Louisville crash
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- UPS accelerated fleet modernization and retired its MD-11 fleet during the quarter.
- FAA grounded MD-11, MD-11F, MD-10 and DC-10 models pending inspections after crash.
- NTSB reported engine-pylon detachment and fatigue cracks but has not issued final cause.
UPS has retired its MD-11 fleet, the model of McDonnell Douglas airplane that was involved in a fatal crash in Louisville in November.
The announcement was shared in the company’s quarterly earnings report Tuesday. UPS said it has accelerated its fleet modernization plans, and as part of that, will retire the MD-11 during the quarter.
MD-11s make up about 9% of UPS Airlines’ fleet.
It’s the model of the Honolulu-bound plane that crashed shortly after takeoff Nov. 4 near Muhammad Ali International Airport in Louisville. The crash killed 15 people, including three crew members and 12 individuals on the ground.
National Transportation Safety Board investigators have not officially determined the cause of the crash, but have shared findings of broken parts with fatigue cracks and signs of overstress. One of the parts was highlighted by Boeing in 2011 after experiencing failures on three different airplanes.
Todd Inman, an NTSB member, previously said the left engine and pylon of the plane detached during takeoff, causing the aircraft to plummet and crash into multiple businesses near the airport. A “repeating bell” was heard on the plane’s cockpit recording only seconds before the crash.
Since the crash, the Federal Aviation Administration has grounded all MD-11 and MD-11F aircraft until they undergo inspections and any necessary repairs. The FAA also grounded all MD-10 and DC-10 aircraft because the engine-pylon structure of those planes is similar in design to MD-11 aircraft, and the unsafe condition is “likely to exist or develop.”
