American delivery giants UPS and FedEx have temporarily grounded part of their cargo plane fleets following a fatal crash in Kentucky that claimed at least 14 lives. The tragedy occurred at Louisville International Airport on Tuesday when a UPS MD-11F aircraft caught fire and veered off the runway during takeoff.
Witnesses reported seeing the plane burst into flames as it collided with nearby business premises, igniting a massive fire that destroyed multiple buildings and forced the airport to close temporarily. Emergency crews battled the blaze for hours, with authorities confirming that another body was discovered during recovery operations, bringing the death toll to 14.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg expressed condolences, saying, “We pray for each of the victims’ families and pray that no additional victims are lost.”
Following the disaster, UPS announced it would ground 9% of its fleet—all MD-11 models—after receiving instructions from manufacturer Boeing. Rival courier FedEx confirmed it would take similar action as a precautionary measure.
In a statement, UPS said the decision was made out of “an abundance of caution,” adding that contingency plans were in place to minimize disruptions to delivery operations. “Nothing is more important to us than the safety of our employees and the communities we serve,” the company added.
The MD-11F aircraft, equipped with three engines, was originally built by McDonnell Douglas before its merger with Boeing in 1997. The model involved in the crash first flew with Thai Airways 34 years ago before being converted for cargo service by UPS in 2006.
According to preliminary findings from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the plane’s left engine caught fire and detached from the wing during takeoff. The aircraft was reportedly carrying 38,000 gallons (144,000 litres) of fuel bound for Hawaii, which intensified the blaze following the impact.
Officials continue to investigate the cause of the crash.
