UPS MD-11F plane crash
Louisville, Kentucky, USA
Updated on
The McDonnell Douglas MD-11 operated by UPS (United Parcel Service) took off from Louisville, KY for a cargo flight to Honolulu, HI, USA. 3 crewmembers were onboard. The plane was accelerating for takeoff when the aircraft impacted ground and came to a rest at an approximate position about 0.6 NM (1km) past the runway end bursting into flames. All three occupants perished. There are 10 fatalities and 11 injuries on the ground.
Shortly after being cleared for takeoff, a large plume of fire erupted from the left side of the aircraft. The three-engine jet managed to gain enough altitude to clear the airport perimeter fence before crashing into a nearby building.
The takeoff run was uneventful initially through the different speed call outs, about 37 seconds after the crew called for takeoff thrust a repeating bell was heard which persisted until the end of the recording 25 seconds later. According to ADS-B data, the aircraft reached an altitude of approximately 475 feet MSL (equalling 100 ft above ground level) and a ground speed of 183 knots before descending and striking the ground. Preliminary reports suggest that engine No. 1, located on the left wing, may have separated from the aircraft during the takeoff roll, possibly damaging the center engine (No. 2) as it broke away.
Designed in the late 1980s as the successor to the iconic DC-10 tri-jet, the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 went on to become a mainstay of long-haul cargo operations. With a payload capacity of up to 90 tons and a range exceeding 6,000 nautical miles, the aircraft earned its place among freight carriers for its endurance and heavy-lift capabilities.
Today, only a handful of major operators—including UPS, FedEx Express, and Western Global Airlines—continue to fly the MD-11. The type is gradually being retired in favor of newer, more efficient aircraft such as the Boeing 767-300F and 777F.
The aircraft involved in the Louisville crash was built in 1991, giving it 34 years of service. It entered the UPS fleet in 2006.
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