Voice, Data Recorders Recovered As 12 Fatalities And 15 Injured Confirmed

The National Transportation Safety Board has confirmed that the UPS MD-11 freighter that crashed just after takeoff from the cargo operator’s Worldport freight hub in Louisville, Kentucky, lost its left engine during the aircraft’s takeoff roll, igniting a serious fire as the jet accelerated on the runway.

According to NTSB Board Member Todd Inman, CCTV footage showed the No. 1 engine separating from the wing as the aircraft was gaining speed during its takeoff from Runway 17L at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (KSDF).

“We have viewed airport security footage confirming the left engine detached during the takeoff roll,” he said during a briefing with media.

The flight, fully loaded with cargo and fuel, departed at 5:15 pm local on its flight to Honolulu, Hawaii. It lifted off the ground slightly and cleared the airport perimeter fence before it struck powerlines, buildings, and terrain, coming to rest about a half mile beyond the runway. The fuselage was destroyed by the impact and subsequent fire.

The aircraft had 3 crewmembers, who were among the 12 people including one child now confirmed as fatalities, and 15 injured. Most of the victims were on the ground as the aircraft struck several industrial buildings near the airport.

Both the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder, manufactured by L3Harris, were recovered from the scene according to Inman. “They suffered some heat, not intrusion. Once we get these to our lab in D.C., we will be able to get a good readout of the applicable data,” he said.

The detached engine is a GE CF6-80C2, and it was found about 8,700 from the start of Runway 17L. NTSB confirmed flames were visible before liftoff but the exact sequence of events leading to the separation of the engine is not yet clear.

FMI:  www.ntsb.gov/