In the wake of a catastrophic crash involving a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 cargo plane in Kentucky, the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued an emergency directive grounding all MD-11 and MD-11F models for immediate inspections. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, resulted in the deaths of 14 individuals and narrowly avoided a major Ford vehicle assembly plant employing approximately 3,000 workers. The plane, operated by UPS and laden with 144,000 liters of fuel, exploded upon impact, leaving a trail of debris and billowing smoke. The FAA’s directive, announced on Saturday, mandates that all MD-11 aircraft remain grounded until thorough inspections and necessary corrective actions are completed. The agency cited the detachment of the left-hand engine and pylon during takeoff as the primary concern, indicating that similar issues could arise in other aircraft of the same design. UPS and FedEx, both major operators of the MD-11, have voluntarily grounded their fleets, with UPS stating that the model constitutes about nine percent of its total fleet. Boeing, the current owner of McDonnell Douglas, has recommended suspending all MD-11 operations pending further engineering analysis. The crash, described as the deadliest in UPS history, has prompted an investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which has recovered the flight data and cockpit voice recorders for analysis. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has called for prayers for the victims’ families and the Louisville community, emphasizing the tragic impact of the event. The incident has also raised concerns about air safety amidst the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, though the NTSB has confirmed no staff shortages at Louisville’s airport at the time of the crash.