UPS and FedEx Ground MD-11 Fleets After Boeing Safety Advisory
Boeing urged a pause in operations pending analysis of black-box data indicating engine fire with subsequent separation.
Overview
- The suspensions follow the Nov. 4 UPS MD-11 crash during takeoff in Louisville that killed 14 people, including the three pilots.
- NTSB officials said a cockpit alarm was captured about 37 seconds after takeoff power was applied as the left wing burned and the left engine had separated.
- Investigators recovered the cockpit voice and flight data recorders, which are being analyzed in Washington.
- MD-11s make up about 9% of UPS’s fleet and 4% of FedEx’s, and Western Global is the only other U.S. cargo operator, according to Cirium.
- The accident aircraft, built in 1991 and loaded with roughly 38,000 gallons of fuel for a flight to Hawaii, generated an intense post-crash fire seen in multiple videos.