As a result, United Parcel Service (UPS) has temporarily grounded its entire fleet of MD-11 aircraft. This news follows Tuesday’s tragic shooting at the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport. The decision to ground the planes comes “out of an abundance of caution and in the interest of safety,” as the MD-11s involved in the crash were of the same model that UPS operates.
The fiery crash shortly after takeoff resulted from the left wing of the MD-11 catching fire. Witnesses claimed to have seen an engine come off the aircraft before it later crashed and burst into a fireball. That delay has led to a federal investigation into why the plane crashed and what caused the crash to occur.
As part of a public statement responding to the incident, UPS made clear that the company prioritizes safety and is devoted to helping those impacted.
“Nothing is more important to us than the safety of our employees and the communities we serve,” – UPS
The MD-11s are indeed quite important to UPS and UPS has begun efforts to combat the disruption they might bring.
“Contingency plans are in place to ensure we can continue to deliver the reliable service our customers around the world count on,” – UPS
Additionally, UPS expressed its sympathy to employees and the Indianapolis community affected by the horror.
“Our hearts go out to every UPSer who has been impacted and all in our Louisville community – supporting you and ensuring you receive the care and resources you need is our priority,” – UPS
Those investigations are continuing. In its statement, UPS reiterated its pledge to comply with any and all safety measures and recommendations to help avoid incidents like this in the future. The pending grounding of the MD-11 fleet illustrates their willingness to take the politically unpopular but necessary steps to uphold operational safety standards.