Entire UPS Fleet of Planes Grounded After Fatal Crash
A fleet of UPS McDonnell Douglas MD-11 cargo planes that were grounded following a fatal crash in Louisville, Kentucky, killing 14 people, will not return to service during the upcoming holiday peak season. Initially expected to be out of service for weeks,inspections and repairs mandated by the FAA are now projected to take several months. The crash involved the detachment of a left engine during takeoff. UPS stated they will implement contingency plans to maintain deliveries and emphasized prioritizing safety by thoroughly inspecting and repairing each aircraft. the MD-11 fleet, with planes over 30 years old, constitutes about 9% of UPSS airline fleet and 4% of FedEx’s. Boeing, which took over MD-11 manufacturing after merging with McDonnell Douglas, is working on inspection procedures and technical support under FAA oversight.
A fleet of planes that UPS grounded after a deadly crash isn’t expected to be back in service during the peak holiday season due to inspections and possible repairs, the company said Wednesday in an internal memo.
The airline expects it will be several months before its McDonnell Douglas MD-11 fleet returns to service as it works to meet Federal Aviation Administration guidelines, the memo from UPS Airlines president Bill Moore to employees said. The process was originally estimated to take weeks but is now expected to take several months.
A fiery MD-11 plane crash on Nov. 4 in Louisville, Kentucky, killed 14 people and injured at least 23 when the left engine detached during takeoff. Cargo carriers grounded their McDonnell Douglas MD-11 fleets shortly after, ahead of a directive from the FAA.
“Regarding the MD-11 fleet, Boeing’s ongoing evaluation shows that inspections and potential repairs will be more extensive than initially expected,” Moore wrote in the memo.
A UPS representative said in a statement that the company will rely on contingency plans to deliver for customers throughout the peak season, and it “will take the time needed to ensure that every aircraft is safe.”
The 109 remaining MD-11 airliners, averaging more than 30 years old, are exclusively used to haul cargo for package delivery companies. MD-11s make up about 9 percent of the UPS airline fleet and 4 percent of the FedEx fleet.
Boeing, which took over as the manufacturer of MD-11s since merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997, said in a statement that it is “working diligently to provide instructions and technical support to operators” so that they can meet the FAA’s requirements.
The FAA said Boeing will develop the procedures for inspections and any corrective actions, pending approval from the FAA.
The Western Journal has not reviewed this Associated Press story prior to publication. Therefore, it may contain editorial bias or may in some other way not meet our normal editorial standards. It is provided to our readers as a service from The Western Journal.
Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. Advertise Today.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
