US FAA issues emergency ban on MD-11 flights following Kentucky crash prompting investigations

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has mandated an emergency restriction on McDonnell Douglas MD-11 aircraft following a fatal accident in Louisville, Kentucky, last week. The accident, involving a UPS cargo plane on takeoff, resulted in 14 fatalities, including three pilots. The FAA's Emergency Airworthiness Directive requires immediate inspection and corrective actions for the aircraft of this model. UPS and FedEx had previously grounded their MD-11 fleets as a precaution. The crash was attributed to the detachment of the left-hand engine and pylon, with investigations ongoing into the cause. The aircraft, first manufactured in 1988 and later merged into Boeing in 1997, has historically been used for freight, with prior commercial airline service including Finnair and KLM until its retirement from passenger operations in 2014. The incident occurs amid broader air traffic disruptions caused by the US government shutdown, which has led to thousands of canceled flights and staffing shortages. Officials emphasize that the safety order aims to prevent further accidents with the same aircraft type.