UPS Grounds MD-11 Fleet Indefinitely After Crash

UPS Airlines has grounded its entire fleet of McDonnell Douglas MD-11 cargo planes indefinitely, with the aircraft not expected to return to service for several months due to extensive inspections and potential repairs following a fatal crash last month. The decision, detailed in an internal memo from UPS Airlines President Bill Moore, comes as the company works to comply with Federal Aviation Administration guidelines ahead of the busy holiday shipping season.

The grounding stems from a fiery crash on November 4 at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky. A UPS MD-11 cargo jet, bound for Honolulu, experienced a catastrophic failure during takeoff when its left engine detached, igniting a fire that caused the plane to break apart and plummet into a nearby industrial area. The incident killed 14 people, including the three crew members aboard and 11 individuals on the ground, and injured at least 23 others. According to data from the plane's black box, the aircraft reached only about 30 feet above the ground before the explosion occurred. Images released by the National Transportation Safety Board show flames erupting from the left engine moments after liftoff,...