UPS has temporarily grounded part of its air fleet after a deadly crash involving one of its cargo planes killed at least 14 people in Kentucky.
The decision will affect around 9 percent of the company’s aircraft.
“Out of an abundance of caution and in the interest of safety, we have made the decision to temporarily ground our MD-11 fleet. MD-11s are approximately 9% of the UPS Airlines fleet,” said the company in a statement.
“The grounding is effective immediately. We made this decision proactively at the recommendation of the aircraft manufacturer. Nothing is more important to us than the safety of our employees and the communities we serve,” added the statement.
“Contingency plans are in place to ensure we can continue to deliver the reliable service our customers around the world count on,” it added.
Newsweek has contacted UPS for additional comment via email.
Why It Matters
The grounding underscores the fragility of the U.S. supply chain heading into the busy holiday season. UPS is one of the nation’s largest air cargo carriers, and any disruption to its operations could delay deliveries and affect businesses that rely on rapid shipping.
What To Know
On Tuesday, an MD-11 operated by UPS Airlines (Flight 2976) crashed just after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky. The plane was headed to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, Hawaii.
At least 14 people died in the crash, officials said. That includes pilots Captain Richard Wartenberg, First Officer Lee Truitt, and International Relief Officer Captain Dana Diamond.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the UPS MD-11 cargo jet departed Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport around 5:15 p.m. local time with three crew members onboard. Moments later, the plane’s left wing reportedly caught fire and an engine detached, sending the wide-body freighter crashing to the ground and erupting into a fireball.
In response, rival FedEx also grounded its fleet of 28 MD-11s out of caution. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has since launched an investigation into the aircraft’s maintenance history, noting that the jet had recently undergone repairs in Texas.
A class-action lawsuit was filed the following day against UPS, Boeing, and General Electric, alleging that the companies’ “recklessness” led to the crash, WDRB reported.
“(Their) recklessness has upended the lives and livelihoods of Plaintiffs and numerous Kentuckians, who live with trauma, fear and uncertainty caused by Defendants’ actions,” the suit claims.
Filed by local resident Shakeara Ware, auto shop Triple D, Inc., and property owner Ensey LLC, the complaint seeks damages for “emotional distress, business interruption, revenue losses, lost wages,” and property damage.
The lawsuit also accuses the MD-11 model and its CF-6 engines of having a troubling safety history, alleging that the aircraft has been linked to multiple catastrophic failures and ranks among the least reliable commercial planes still in service.
However, NTSB investigators said the engine—not the wing—detached mid-flight, and the cause remains under review. The complaint references previous MD-11 crashes, including a 2009 FedEx disaster in Tokyo, and several CF-6-related accidents dating back decades, suggesting that similar mechanical defects “caused or contributed” to the Louisville crash.
What Happens Next
UPS said it is working closely with the NTSB and remains in “close contact with the Federal Aviation Administration” as investigations continue. No conclusions have yet been reached as to the cause of the crash, and enquiries and analysis are ongoing.
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