By SARAH RAZA | Related Press
A lethal crash has pressured UPS Airways to floor a fleet of planes for inspections and doable repairs that might final by the height supply season, the corporate mentioned Wednesday in an inside memo.
The airline grounded its McDonnell Douglas MD-11 fleet indefinitely as it really works to satisfy Federal Aviation Administration tips, mentioned the memo from UPS Airways president Invoice Moore to staff. The method was initially estimated to take weeks however is now anticipated to take a number of months.
A fiery MD-11 airplane crash on Nov. 4 in Louisville, Kentucky, killed 14 individuals and injured no less than 23 when the left engine indifferent throughout takeoff. Cargo carriers grounded their McDonnell Douglas MD-11 fleets shortly after, forward of a directive from the FAA.
“Regarding the MD-11 fleet, Boeing’s ongoing evaluation shows that inspections and potential repairs will be more extensive than initially expected,” Moore wrote within the memo.
A UPS spokesperson mentioned in a press release that the corporate will depend on contingency plans to ship for patrons all through the height season, and it “will take the time needed to ensure that every aircraft is safe.”
The 109 remaining MD-11 airliners, averaging greater than 30 years previous, are solely used to haul cargo for bundle supply firms. MD-11s make up about 9% of the UPS airline fleet and 4% of the FedEx fleet.
Boeing, which took over because the producer of MD-11s since merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997, mentioned in a press release that it’s “working diligently to provide instructions and technical support to operators” in order that they’ll meet the FAA’s necessities.
The FAA mentioned Boeing will develop the procedures for inspections and any corrective actions, pending approval from the FAA.
