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In the wake of a cargo plane crash Tuesday evening in Louisville that killed 14 people near its Worldport air freight headquarters, UPS announced just before midnight Friday it is grounding its fleet of McDonnell Douglas MD-11 aircraft.
The commercial shipping giant said in an online statement it was doing so "out of an abundance of caution and in the interest of safety" at the recommendation of the aircraft manufacturer.
The MD-11 that crashed into a petroleum recycling facility and automotive scrapyard just south of Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) seconds into a flight to Hawaii was manufactured in 1991.
Boeing Aerospace, which took over McDonnell Douglas in 1997, is part of a multi-agency group investigating the crash, including engine manufacturer GE Aerospace, the NTSB, FAA, International Pilots Union (IPA) and UPS.
The MD-11 makes up around 9% of the company's fleet, according to a statement issued by the company.
"Nothing is more important to us than the safety of our employees and the communities we serve," it stated. "Contingency plans are in place to ensure we can continue to deliver the reliable service our customers around the world count on."
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg posted on social media Saturday night that 13 deceased victims found at the crash site matched the number of missing persons reports filed with local police. A 14th victim died Friday in a Louisville hospital.
Greenberg said the county coroner "is working rapidly to identify each victim and will make their names public as soon as their identities are confirmed. May the victims' memories be a blessing."
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The plane's left wing caught fire during the flight's take-off roll, and engine No. 1, from the affected wing, was found near the end of the runway. The NTSB on Friday morning released drone video of the crash site that clearly showed the short but tragic flight path of the aircraft.
In a final on-site media briefing on Friday, board member Todd Inman shared details on what investigators have recovered from the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and the airport grounds, as investigators combed the area for clues, locating more pieces of the engine.The bulk of the left-engine pylon was still connected to the engine when it detached from the wing, Inman said. Data from the plane's ADS-B system showed its altituded at about 100 feet above ground level as it moved at a speed of around 183 knots.
During the two-hour CVR recording, Inman said, the crew proceeded through pre-flight checklist and briefings. Through the callouts as the aircraft built up speed, the take-off roll was uneventful, he said. Roughly 37 seconds after the call for takeoff thrust, a repeating bell ringing in the cockpit persisted until the end of the recording, 25 seconds later.
During those final moments, Inman said, the crew "engaged in efforts," trying to control the plane.