US Grounds Cargo Plane Model Following Deadly Kentucky Crash

Sun Nov 09 2025 11:22:44 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The Federal Aviation Administration has ordered all MD-11 cargo planes grounded after a tragic incident in Kentucky resulted in 14 fatalities.

In the wake of a catastrophic cargo plane crash at Louisville International Airport, US authorities have halted all flights of the MD-11 model. The accident occurred during takeoff, leading to the aircraft's left engine detaching and igniting a massive fire upon impact. 14 fatalities have been confirmed, prompting UPS and FedEx to temporarily ground their fleets pending further safety evaluations.

US aviation authorities have ordered that all models of a cargo plane that crashed mid-takeoff in Kentucky on Tuesday be grounded.

It comes after a Boeing MD-11 aircraft operated by UPS burst into flames on the runway of Louisville International Airport before colliding with neighboring businesses, killing 14 people.

The American delivery firm had earlier said it would not operate the planes pending an ongoing investigation, with FedEx following suit.

Now the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a formal notice banning all MD-11 and MD11F aircraft from flying until safety checks are carried out.

In total, 70 models are in use with UPS, FedEx, and Western Global Airlines.

FAA officials said the Kentucky crash happened after the plane's left engine caught fire and detached from the wing during takeoff.

The aircraft was carrying 38,000 gallons of fuel as it took off for a flight to Hawaii, contributing to the size of the fire after the crash.

A total of 14 people were killed in the crash and subsequent fire, including one person who had been admitted to hospital, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg has said.

He stated that the number of dead matches the number of people reported missing, indicating that officials do not expect the death toll to climb further.

Boeing welcomed the directive and advised the three firms using the model to halt operations out of 'an abundance of caution.'

It remains unclear whether the order will impact delivery services in the US, as none of the three companies have reported disruption so far.

Data from FlightRadar24 indicated that 55 MD-11 planes were in use over the past week.

FedEx stated, 'Contingency plans are in place to flex our integrated air and ground network to help protect time-sensitive, critical shipments.' UPS echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of safety for employees and the communities they serve.

The MD-11 has been used exclusively as a cargo carrier since 2014, with its passenger flights ceasing that year. The model involved in the crash was an MD-11F triple-engine plane, which first entered service 34 years ago and was transferred to UPS in 2006.

Following its merger with Boeing, production of the MD-11 ceased in 2000.