UPS grounds its MD-11 cargo planes after deadly crash

WASHINGTON,

UPS announced on Friday that it had grounded its fleet of MD-11 cargo planes following a deadly crash in Kentucky earlier this week.

A McDonnell Douglas MD-11 aircraft, bound for Hawaii, crashed on Tuesday shortly after departing from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport.

It erupted into flames as it struck businesses adjacent to the airport, killing at least 14 people. A three-person crew was on board.

"Out of an abundance of caution and in the interest of safety, we have made the decision to temporarily ground our MD-11 fleet," UPS said.
"The grounding is effective immediately. We made this decision proactively at the recommendation of the aircraft manufacturer," the courier added.

The company stated that it had contingency plans in place "to ensure we can continue to deliver reliable service."

Delivery giant FedEx has also grounded its fleet of MD-11s while it conducts a safety review, according to US media reports.

Around nine per cent of UPS's fleet consists of MD-11s, the company said.