Federal investigators have released dramatic photos of the doomed UPS cargo plane moments before its deadly crash, which claimed the lives of 14 people in Kentucky two weeks ago. The images show the left engine flying off the plane as it took off from Louisville International Airport, and a final shot of the aircraft slightly airborne with its left wing ablaze.
According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), there was evidence of cracks in the left wing's engine mount, which is a critical component that requires regular inspections. The NTSB said the plane only reached 30 feet off the ground before it crashed, citing data from the flight data recorder.
The NTSB report also revealed that the plane was due for a detailed inspection of key engine mount parts that had fractures. However, it still needed to complete nearly 7,000 more takeoffs and landings before it could be safely returned to service.
Aviation safety expert Jeff Guzzetti said that while UPS appears to have conducted maintenance within the required time frame, the FAA may now consider whether this timeframe is adequate for ensuring public safety. "It's a wake-up call," Guzzetti told The Associated Press. "We need to make sure that these types of maintenance are being done properly and within the required timeframe."
The plane's black boxes have been recovered by the NTSB, and UPS has grounded its fleet of MD-11s until further notice. The airline is working with investigators to determine the "root cause" of the crash and develop an inspection plan to repair any damage.
Local authorities have released a list of all 14 victims of the crash, including three employees of Grade A Auto, one of the businesses hit by the plane. The families of those affected are still reeling from the tragedy, with many expressing their grief on social media.
According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), there was evidence of cracks in the left wing's engine mount, which is a critical component that requires regular inspections. The NTSB said the plane only reached 30 feet off the ground before it crashed, citing data from the flight data recorder.
The NTSB report also revealed that the plane was due for a detailed inspection of key engine mount parts that had fractures. However, it still needed to complete nearly 7,000 more takeoffs and landings before it could be safely returned to service.
Aviation safety expert Jeff Guzzetti said that while UPS appears to have conducted maintenance within the required time frame, the FAA may now consider whether this timeframe is adequate for ensuring public safety. "It's a wake-up call," Guzzetti told The Associated Press. "We need to make sure that these types of maintenance are being done properly and within the required timeframe."
The plane's black boxes have been recovered by the NTSB, and UPS has grounded its fleet of MD-11s until further notice. The airline is working with investigators to determine the "root cause" of the crash and develop an inspection plan to repair any damage.
Local authorities have released a list of all 14 victims of the crash, including three employees of Grade A Auto, one of the businesses hit by the plane. The families of those affected are still reeling from the tragedy, with many expressing their grief on social media.
! I mean, can you believe a cargo plane just falls apart in mid-air? It's literally a nightmare scenario 
. The fact that there were cracks in the engine mount all along and UPS didn't catch it sooner is just disturbing 
. And now, 14 people are gone 
. It's like, what's being done to prevent this kind of tragedy in the future? Shouldn't regular inspections be enough to keep planes safe? 
I don't think 7,000 more takeoffs and landings should be required before a plane is deemed safe again 
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. But this whole thing just highlights how unpredictable air travel can be 
. We need to make sure our aviation system is on top of things, you know? I just hope the families of those who lost their lives find some kind of closure soon 
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And then there's that wing ablaze pic... no words! It's like something out of a movie or a horror film 
this is just so sad 
the fact that cracks were found in the wing but still got approved for more flights is just shocking 
can't believe how fast things moved in this investigation. hopefully, changes will be made to prevent something like this from happening again 
And all because of some cracks in the wing mount 
. 7,000 more takeoffs and landings? That's just not right 
. I mean, I'm glad UPS is grounding its whole fleet, but can't we learn from this tragedy instead of just doing a bunch of cosmetic repairs? 
We need to make sure that airlines are taking maintenance seriously, not just checking boxes on their to-do lists 
. It's like, come on guys, people's lives were lost over here 
. I'm also thinking, 7,000 more takeoffs and landings... that sounds like just an excuse to keep the planes flying while they figure out what went wrong. The FAA's gonna be all over this, but will they really make changes or just tweak the rules a bit? 
. The fact that cracks were detected in the engine mount, but the plane was still cleared to fly, raises serious concerns about the FAA's oversight and regulatory framework 
. I think it's crucial that we re-examine our standards for ensuring public safety, especially when it comes to high-risk industries like air transport 
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. It's like they're playing a game of "dodge the bullet" with public safety. The fact that UPS was due for a detailed inspection but still needed 7,000 more takeoffs and landings to be safe is just mind-boggling 
. We need to be demanding more from our regulatory agencies when it comes to safety standards. It's a wake-up call for sure... and hopefully, one that leads to some serious changes 
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. And 7k more takeoffs & landings? Come on, that's way too many 
. What's going on with the FAA?! Shouldn't they've been checking these things more closely? 
, and now we're seeing it happen again 
. And seriously, 7k takeoffs and landings before it can fly again? That doesn't sound right 