Daijiworld Media Network – Washington

Washington, May 19: US federal safety investigators are holding hearings this week into last year’s fatal UPS cargo plane crash that claimed 15 lives, focusing on how the aircraft’s engine detached during takeoff and whether Boeing adequately addressed known structural concerns.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) hearings, scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, will examine the sequence of events that led to the catastrophic crash of an MD-11 cargo aircraft at Louisville’s Muhammad Ali International Airport in November.

According to investigators, the engine separated from the wing as the aircraft accelerated down the runway. Moments later, the plane crashed outside the airport perimeter, triggering a massive fireball. Three crew members onboard and 12 people on the ground were killed.

The aircraft, which was fully loaded with cargo and fuel and bound for Hawaii, had barely lifted off before crashing into nearby businesses close to the airport boundary.

Officials said post-crash visuals showed the engine detaching mid-takeoff, followed by flames engulfing the wing as the aircraft went down.

The incident has drawn comparisons with a 1979 DC-10 crash in Chicago, where an engine detachment led to the deaths of 273 people and triggered major aviation safety reviews worldwide.

Investigators earlier found cracks in key components that secure the engine to the wing, which were not detected during routine maintenance inspections. The last detailed inspection of those parts was carried out in October 2021, with the aircraft not scheduled for another major check for several thousand flight cycles.

The NTSB also noted that Boeing had recorded earlier failures involving similar engine-mount parts in 2011 but had concluded at the time that the issue did not pose an immediate flight safety risk.

Although Boeing issued a service bulletin recommending replacement of the spherical bearings with improved components, it was not made mandatory and no FAA airworthiness directive was issued.

Following the crash, the Federal Aviation Administration approved a plan to replace the faulty component across MD-11 aircraft and enhance inspection protocols.

Some MD-11 cargo aircraft have since returned to service after modifications, while UPS has announced plans to retire its remaining MD-11 fleet. FedEx has also resumed limited operations using the aircraft following safety upgrades.