U.S. delivery companies UPS and FedEx have temporarily grounded some of their cargo planes after a mid-takeoff crash in Kentucky killed at least 14 people on Tuesday.
A UPS plane caught fire when it skidded off the runway and collided with adjacent commercial buildings, causing a huge fire that destroyed several buildings and closed Louisville International Airport.
UPS said the decision to stop using MD-11 models followed instructions from manufacturer Boeing, while rival delivery giant FedEx confirmed it would follow suit.
Officials have yet to determine what caused the fatal crash.
Hours before the fleet was grounded, officials confirmed the death toll had risen to 14 after another body was discovered, with more victims still being searched for in buildings engulfed in flames.
“We are praying for every family of the victims and praying that no victims will lose their lives,” Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said.
In a statement, UPS said the decision to ground 9% of its fleet was out of an “abundance of caution.”
Boeing later said in a statement to Reuters that it had recommended that UPS and Fedex suspend use of the MD-11 aircraft.
“This recommendation was made with an abundance of caution and we will continue to coordinate with the FAA on this issue,” a Boeing spokesman said.
It is unclear to what extent delivery services will be affected by the actions of UPS and Fedex, which are the world's largest freight carriers.
FedEx said it had 28 MD-11s, and Reuters cited a UPS fact sheet that said it had 27 planes in its fleet before the Kentucky crash.
UPS said contingency plans are in place to continue service. The statement went on to say, “Nothing is more important to us than the safety of our employees and the communities we serve.”
The aircraft involved in the crash was a tri-engine MD-11F, which first entered service with Thai Airways 34 years ago as a passenger aircraft but was transferred to UPS in 2006.
MD-11s were originally produced by McDonnell Douglas before the company's merger with Boeing in 1997. Production of the MD-11 ended in 2000, and passenger service officially ceased in 2014.
The left engine caught fire and separated from the wing during takeoff, according to the National Transportation and Safety Board.
The plane had 38,000 gallons (144,000 liters) of fuel on board when it attempted to disembark for the long flight to Hawaii, which contributed to the size of the fire that broke out after the crash.
