LOUISVILLE, KY — A UPS cargo plane crash in Louisville last November killed 15 people, prompting federal hearings this week to investigate the incident.
According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the MD-11 aircraft's engine detached during takeoff from Muhammad Ali International Airport, resulting in the deaths of three pilots and 12 individuals on the ground. The hearings, scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, will focus on why the engine separation occurred and the response timeline of Boeing to address previous identified flaws.
The plane was reportedly headed for Hawaii when it crashed, striking nearby businesses and igniting a fireball. Witnesses described the scene as chaotic, with flames engulfing the aircraft shortly after takeoff.
The NTSB's preliminary findings indicated cracks in the engine mount parts, which had not been detected in routine maintenance. The last thorough inspection of these components occurred in October 2021, and the next was not scheduled for approximately 7,000 more flight cycles.
Authorities reported earlier that Boeing documented previous failures of similar engine components in unrelated aircraft as far back as 2011 but did not issue mandatory repair directives, raising concerns about its maintenance standards.
In response to ongoing safety concerns, the FAA has cleared some MD-11s to resume operations after Boeing implemented enhanced inspections. FedEx has resumed MD-11 service, while UPS plans to phase out its fleet of the aircraft.