In brief
Two weeks after the tragic UPS cargo plane crash in Kentucky, which killed 14 individuals, federal investigators released unsettling images depicting the engine's detachment shortly after takeoff. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) indicated possible fractures in the engine mount as contributing factors to the disaster. UPS Airlines' president stated the company is collaborating with investigators to identify the root cause and develop inspection protocols. Meanwhile, the MD-11 fleet has been grounded during the peak holiday season.
Federal investigators released dramatic photos Thursday of an engine flying off a doomed UPS cargo plane that crashed two weeks ago, killing 14 people in Kentucky. Evidence of cracks in the left wing’s engine mount has been found. The MD-11 plane only got 30 feet (9.1 meters) off the ground, according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which cited the flight data recorder in its first formal but preliminary report about the Nov. 4 disaster in Louisville. Three pilots aboard the plane were killed, along with 11 more people on the ground near Muhammad Ali International Airport.The NTSB noted that the plane was not scheduled for a detailed inspection of key engine mount parts that had fractures, as it still required nearly 7,000 more takeoffs and landings since its last examination in October 2021. Aviation safety expert Jeff Guzzetti commented, 'It appears UPS was conducting this maintenance within the required time frame, but I’m sure the FAA is now going to ponder whether that time frame is adequate.'A series of photos released by the NTSB shows the left engine coming off the UPS plane and soaring over the wing as it rolled down the runway, culminating in an image of the aircraft slightly airborne with its left wing ablaze.Earlier this week, Bill Moore, president of UPS Airlines, mentioned that the company is working with investigators to determine the crash's 'root cause.' He stated, 'Once we determine that, then they’ll be able to develop an inspection plan.' UPS has grounded its fleet of MD-11s and is utilizing other aircraft during the holiday season.