UPS Grounds MD-11 Fleet Following Fatal Cargo Plane Crash

A McDonnell Douglas MD-11 plane crashed shortly after takeoff on Tuesday, catching fire and killing at least 14 people. The plane was carrying a crew of three.

 According to US media reports, delivery company FedEx has also grounded its fleet of MD-11 planes during a safety review. The company did not immediately respond to an AFP request for confirmation.

"Out of an abundance of caution and in the interest of safety, we have made the decision to temporarily ground our MD-11 fleet," UPS said.

"The grounding is effective immediately. We made this decision proactively at the recommendation of the aircraft manufacturer," the courier added.

The company said it has contingency plans in place to "continue to provide reliable service."

 According to the company, approximately nine percent of UPS's fleet consists of MD-11 aircraft.

 Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear previously said that another crash victim has been located, bringing the total to 14.

The plane, loaded with about 38,000 gallons of fuel for the long flight to Hawaii, narrowly missed a major Ford vehicle assembly plant, where about 3,000 people work.

 Aerial footage of the crash site showed a tall pile of debris as firefighters doused the flames and smoke billowed from the area.

 Investigators have said the crash was caused by an engine catching fire and separating during takeoff.

 National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) member Todd Inman said this week that investigators have identified the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder – known as the plane's black box – and will send them to Washington for analysis.

The accident is being described as the deadliest in UPS's history. Its main hub, Worldport, is in Louisville, where thousands of employees work.

 According to the NTSB, the plane was built in 1991 and converted to a cargo plane. McDonnell Douglas merged with Boeing in 1997.

 The accident occurred during the longest government shutdown in US history, with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warning this week of "mass chaos" in the skies due to a shortage of air traffic control staff.