Friday marks the traditional beginning of the shopping and shipping season, but don’t expect any of those packages to be carried by MD-11s. The model, used exclusively by cargo airlines, remains grounded by an airworthiness directive following the deadly crash of UPS flight 2976 in Kentucky on November 4.
UPS grounded its remaining MD-11s on November 7, shortly before the FAA issued an airworthiness directive grounding the world fleet on November 8.
“Nothing is more important to us than the safety of our employees and the communities we serve,” UPS said in a statement to FLYING. “We will take the time needed to ensure that every aircraft is safe. Our contingency plans give us assurance that we’ll continue to effectively move package volume and deliver for our customers throughout peak season.”
About the Aircraft
The MD-11 is a three-engine design certified in 1990. There are 109 of the aircraft still in use in the world. UPS has 26 MD-11s in its fleet; FedEx has 28. Florida-based cargo carrier Western Global has 14 of the type. The aircraft was originally built by McDonnell Douglas, then the manufacturing was taken over by Boeing in 1997 when the companies merged. The last MD-11 was built in 2001.
As the holder of the type certificate, Boeing is responsible for airworthiness directives concerning the airframe.
“Boeing will develop the procedures for inspections and any necessary corrective actions, and the FAA must approve them,” the FAA said in a statement. “Aircraft operators will be responsible for performing the inspections.”
“We remain in close contact with operators and the FAA,” said a Boeing spokesperson. “Our team is working diligently to provide instructions and technical support to operators so they can meet the requirements of the FAA Airworthiness Directive.”
Officials stress the grounding is temporary; however, according to the Associated Press, an internal memo sent to UPS employees warned the inspections and the necessary changes and possible repairs will likely take several months.
About the Accident
Images of the accident captured by security cameras show what appears to be a fire on the aircraft’s left wing during its takeoff roll from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (KDSF) the evening of November 4.
Images included in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) preliminary report on the crash show what appears to be a fire on the left wing in the vicinity of the engine. The left engine sheared off the pylon, and the pylon departed the wing as the fire grew.
More video from multiple angles shows the burning aircraft unable to climb. It crashed in an industrial park and petroleum reclamation center off the end of the runway, killing the three-person flight crew and 11 people on the ground. Another 23 were injured.
The fire filled the air with black smoke and burned for several days; the aircraft was full of fuel, as it was destined for Hawaii.
The NTSB investigation is continuing.
