The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on 20/11 released a series of photos detailing the MD-11 cargo plane crash involving UPS in Louisville earlier this month. The images show the left engine and its pylon detaching, catching fire in mid-air before falling to the ground.
Fire also erupted near the left engine pylon, continuing to burn until the aircraft impacted the ground, according to the NTSB.
US officials reported the plane reached a maximum altitude of 9 m before crashing. Subsequent inspections revealed signs of cracks caused by "metal fatigue", a phenomenon where metal structures weaken from continuous high stress.
According to the NTSB, the affected components were last inspected in 10/2021. Before the accident, the MD-11 had completed 21,403 flights, and the operator had no plans to inspect these parts until the aircraft reached 28,000 flights.
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Images of the MD-11 cargo plane crash, released on 20/11. Photo: NTSB |
Images of the MD-11 cargo plane crash, released on 20/11. Photo: NTSB
The accident occurred during takeoff from Louisville International Airport, bound for Hawaii. The MD-11 crashed outside the airport perimeter, killing three crew members and 11 people on the ground, and injuring 23 others. US officials subsequently grounded the entire MD-11 fleet for inspections.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also issued an emergency directive regarding the incident, stating that the "left engine and pylon detached from the aircraft during takeoff". The FAA noted, "The cause of the separation is still under investigation. This unsafe condition could lead to a loss of flight control and normal landing capability."
The MD-11 aircraft was designed and manufactured by McDonnell Douglas Corporation, which later became part of Boeing. It was a popular wide-body passenger jet upon its 1990 launch, before most were converted for cargo operations due to rising fuel costs. According to Boeing, the MD-11 has a maximum takeoff weight of 286 tons, with over 117 tons dedicated to fuel.
The NTSB noted that the MD-11's predecessor, the DC-10, experienced a similar accident in 1979, resulting in over 270 fatalities in Chicago. In that incident, an American Airlines aircraft crashed into an open field after its left engine, pylon assembly, and one section of the wing separated during takeoff.
By Pham Giang (According to ABC News)
