Overview
- The FAA issued an Emergency Airworthiness Directive that prohibits MD-11 flights until inspections and any required corrective actions are completed.
- UPS and FedEx had already grounded their MD-11s at Boeing’s recommendation, affecting about 9% of UPS’s fleet and roughly 4% of FedEx’s approximately 700-aircraft fleet.
- The NTSB reports the left engine and pylon separated on takeoff; investigators recovered the cockpit voice and flight data recorders, which captured a 25-second warning bell as the plane climbed only about 100 feet.
- Officials say at least 14 people were killed, including pilots Capt. Richard Wartenberg, First Officer Lee Truitt, and Capt. Dana Diamond, with additional people still reported missing.
- UPS and FedEx say contingency plans are keeping critical shipments moving through other aircraft and hubs, and residents and businesses have filed a federal lawsuit against UPS, Boeing, and General Electric.