UPS and FedEx grounded their McDonnell Douglas MD-11 fleets after a UPS MD-11 crashed at Louisville’s Worldport, killing 14 people, including its three pilots bound for Honolulu. Acting on Boeing’s recommendation to pause MD-11 freighter operations for engineering analysis, UPS and FedEx said the step was taken out of caution; MD‑11s are 9% of UPS’s fleet and 4% of FedEx’s. Investigators say a cockpit bell sounded as the nearly airborne jet’s left wing burned and its engine detached, before it hit businesses in a fireball. Worldport’s night sort resumed Wednesday as the probe continues.

Prepared by Christopher Adams and reviewed by editorial team.