US FAA Issues Emergency Directive After UPS Freight Plane Crash in Kentucky

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued an emergency airworthiness directive grounding all McDonnell Douglas MD-11 aircraft pending structural inspections following a fatal crash of a UPS freighter in Louisville, Kentucky. The directive comes after UPS and FedEx had already planned to retire the type in favor of newer freighters. The grounding removes a key share of long-haul cargo capacity during the holiday shipping peak. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the crash, which killed 14 people, including all three crew and 11 on the ground. The FAA warned that the condition identified after the crash could compromise the aircraft’s ability to remain under control and land safely. UPS and FedEx are transitioning their operations to Boeing 767 and 777 freighters. The grounding affects around 50 aircraft, with Western Global Airlines already parked most of its aircraft. The MD-11 has a history of challenging handling characteristics and several high-profile accidents. The FAA’s decision formalizes a precautionary halt already taken by the two largest MD-11 operators. The NTSB’s investigation will determine whether further actions are needed across the aging fleet.