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, and said there was evidence of cracks in the left wing’s engine mount.
The MD-11 plane only got 30 feet (9.1 meters) off the ground, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said, citing the flight data recorder in its first formal report about the November 4 disaster in Louisville.
Three pilots on 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 yet due for a detailed inspection of key parts, having to complete nearly 7,000 more takeoffs and landings before the next check, and it had last been examined in October 2021.
“It appears UPS was conducting this maintenance within the required timeframe, but I’m sure the FAA is now going to ponder whether that timeframe is adequate,” aviation safety expert Jeff Guzzetti told the Associated Press.
A series of photos released by the NTSB shows the left engine coming off the UPS plane and flying over the wing as it rolled down the runway. The final image depicts the plane slightly airborne with a left wing ablaze.
Earlier this week, Bill Moore, president of UPS Airlines, stated the company is cooperating with investigators to determine the root cause of the crash. This includes deliberation on how to inspect, repair, and return the fleet to service, although he cautioned that the process would not happen quickly.
UPS has since grounded its MD-11 fleet, utilizing other aircraft during the peak holiday season.
