American delivery firms UPS and FedEx have temporarily grounded part of their fleets of cargo planes after a mid-takeoff crash in Kentucky on Tuesday left at least 14 people dead. The UPS aircraft burst into flames as it careered off the runway and collided with neighbouring business premises, triggering a huge fire which gutted several buildings and closed Louisville International Airport.
UPS said the decision to ground MD-11 models followed instructions from manufacturer Boeing, while rival delivery giant FedEx confirmed it would follow suit.
Officials are yet to determine what caused the deadly crash. Hours before the fleet was grounded, officials confirmed that the death toll had risen to 14 after another body was found, with buildings caught up in the fire still being searched for more victims. We pray for each of the victims' families and pray that no additional victims are lost, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said.
In a statement, UPS said the decision to ground 9% of its fleet was out of an abundance of caution. Boeing later stated that it recommended UPS and FedEx suspend use of the MD-11 plane, emphasizing that this recommendation was made in a similar approach of caution.
FedEx operates 28 MD-11s, while UPS had 27 in their fleet before the crash. Measures are being taken to ensure service continues safely, with UPS prioritizing the safety of employees and communities.
The model involved in the crash, the MD-11F triple-engine plane, was first introduced 34 years ago and was transferred to UPS in 2006. The National Transportation Safety Board reported that the left engine caught fire and detached during takeoff, contributing to the incident's severity.
UPS said the decision to ground MD-11 models followed instructions from manufacturer Boeing, while rival delivery giant FedEx confirmed it would follow suit.
Officials are yet to determine what caused the deadly crash. Hours before the fleet was grounded, officials confirmed that the death toll had risen to 14 after another body was found, with buildings caught up in the fire still being searched for more victims. We pray for each of the victims' families and pray that no additional victims are lost, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said.
In a statement, UPS said the decision to ground 9% of its fleet was out of an abundance of caution. Boeing later stated that it recommended UPS and FedEx suspend use of the MD-11 plane, emphasizing that this recommendation was made in a similar approach of caution.
FedEx operates 28 MD-11s, while UPS had 27 in their fleet before the crash. Measures are being taken to ensure service continues safely, with UPS prioritizing the safety of employees and communities.
The model involved in the crash, the MD-11F triple-engine plane, was first introduced 34 years ago and was transferred to UPS in 2006. The National Transportation Safety Board reported that the left engine caught fire and detached during takeoff, contributing to the incident's severity.
