FedEx and UPS have grounded their fleets of MD-11 cargo planes after the crash in Kentucky

Core Viewpoint - Delivery companies UPS and FedEx have temporarily grounded their fleets of McDonnell Douglas MD-11 cargo planes following a fatal crash involving a UPS MD-11 in Kentucky, which resulted in at least 14 fatalities, including three crew members [1][2]. Company Actions - UPS stated that the MD-11 planes constitute approximately 9% of its fleet and emphasized that contingency plans are in place to maintain reliable service for customers globally [2]. - FedEx operates 28 MD-11s as part of a larger fleet of around 700 aircraft and has also grounded its MD-11s out of caution, planning to conduct a thorough safety review based on the manufacturer's recommendations [2][3]. Incident Details - The crash occurred near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, where the aircraft was seen banking hard to the left before crashing into an industrial area [4]. - The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported that the left engine of the aircraft separated from the wing during the incident [4]. - An update from the NTSB indicated that the cockpit voice recorder revealed a "repeating bell" sound for 25 seconds as the crew attempted to control the plane, which reached about 100 feet above the ground before the crash [5].