LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Nearly two weeks after the UPS plane crash that killed 14 people, federal aviation officials are still working to determine what caused the deadly incident. In the meantime, more aircraft have been grounded as a precaution.
The Federal Aviation Administration recently grounded MD-11 aircraft, and now the agency has expanded that grounding order. The FAA told WDRB it has issued a new emergency airworthiness directive requiring MD-10 and DC-10 planes to be taken out of service until they are inspected and receive any necessary repairs.
The agency said new analysis showed those aircraft share key design features with the MD-11. The updated directive affects 10 additional U.S.-registered airplanes. MD-11s were grounded Nov. 8, four days after the deadly UPS crash.
The NTSB has said the left-hand engine and pylon detached from the aircraft during takeoff. Aviation experts believe the additional groundings will be temporary.
Tim Holt, chair of Eastern Kentucky University’s School of Aviation, said the crash has already become a topic of discussion in his classrooms.
Holt said, "I firmly believe it is the safest form of transportation. I think we do a lot of things right as we're talking about airworthiness directives to make sure we are doing things properly to make sure this doesn't get replicated on this same type of aircraft."
He added that students are studying the UPS crash and its broader implications across the aviation industry.
"We have quite a few accidents we've looked at over the history of aviation and used those of case studies and examples of the part that maintenance plays into the ecosystem, management, the impact management can have on it, pilots, the human factor, the mechanical," Holt said. "So we try to look at it from every direction and impart that knowledge on our students, so events like this don't happen again."
The FAA said it will continue working closely with Boeing and the NTSB as the investigation moves forward.
UPS operates a fleet of about 500 planes and said all 26 of its MD-11 aircraft remain grounded. The company said it has consolidated flight routes to maximize air capacity while inspections continue.
More on the crash of UPS Flight 2976:
Emotional ceremony held as body of UPS pilot killed in Louisville crash returns to Dallas
Louisville family says they 'escaped death,' narrowly missing UPS plane crash
Louisville's Haitian community mourns man, granddaughter killed in UPS plane crash
'Homeless and jobless' | Workers say they haven’t been given a timeline to return after UPS crash
Dozens of Louisville residents, business join class action lawsuit over UPS plane crash
All 14 victims of deadly UPS plane crash identified by Louisville coroner
'Repeating bell' sounded in cockpit for 25 seconds before UPS crash in Louisville, NTSB says
Copyright 2025 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.
