It was an ordinary operation for a UPS cargo plane as it took off from the Muhammad Ali International Airport in Louisville. In an instant, this plane would become the worst UPS catastrophe in history. Preliminary reports of the National Transportation Safety Board have vindicated the reports of eyewitnesses that the left engine had fallen off an outgoing MD-11F aircraft, which erupted in a blaze that killed 14 individuals.
1. The Mechanical Failure
During the investigation conducted, an essential mounting with the left engine had failed a few seconds after the plane had taken off. From the photographs that display the frames of the incident, the separation of the engine from the wing had made the engine fly over the wing. The engine caught fire thereafter. Cracks influenced by the fatigues appeared on the lugs of the rear mount. The areas of overstress failure had also appeared. The aircraft with a total age of 34 years and having a total flight time in excess of 92,999 flight hours and a total cycle count in excess of 21,011 cycles had not flown beyond a height of 30 feet at the time when the aircraft turned left and crashed into the buildings. The incident shows an incredible likeness with the tragic event involving America Airlines Flight 191 in 1979 in the city of Chicago.
2. The Impact Zone
This specific engine brought about a trail of destruction. This specific aircraft’s major landing gear on the left side damaged the roof of the UPS warehouse before crashing into the petroleum facility that recycled petroleum products. The oil tanks burst into flames, releasing black smoke into the air that was concealed from sight due to the distance apart. The trails brought about destruction amounting to half a mile.
3. Victims
Passengers who lost their lives include Captain Dana Diamond, Captain Richard Wartenberg, First Officer Lee Truitt, and 11 other members of the ground staff. It appears to be a tragedy within this close community in which a local businessman, Louisnes Fedon, lost his life along with a 3-year-old granddaughter, Kimberly Asa, who “quite simply have been in the wrong place at the wrong time.” Matthew Sweets is 37 years old. He fought it out in ICU before dying.
4. Community Grief
As quoted by Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg, “Our city knows the full extent of this unimaginable tragedy. But behind each and every one of those names is a circle of family, a circle of friends, a story that will never be finished.” Vigils held for victims of the attack by Teamsters Local 89 helped bring communities together in their grief, and GoFundMe pages overflowed with donations.
5. Progress of the
The NTSB acted quickly in this incident. The report on the results of the investigation has been released over two weeks after the incident. The FAA teamed with UPS to decide to prohibit the use of all MD-11 and MD-11F aircraft pending inspection. The cockpit recorder provided audio with a clarity good for two hours. The flight data recorder holds data for 63 hours and 24 flights. This will include the flight that ended in disaster. The engine/ptylon has been separated for investigation. The probable cause and safety recommendations will then be made. This will occur within 18-24 months.
6. Psychological Effects
Death of loved ones through violence can also cause Traumatic Grief. This type of grief is considered abnormal grief and is characterized by denial, longing, and the inability of the involved individuals to adjust to life, according to National Center for PTSD. In the case of traumatic grief, the involved individuals may experience depression, anxiety, and poor health because of aspects such as numbness, flashback episodes, and the feeling of guilt for surviving.
7. Coping and Support
A constructive way of dealing and coping with grief includes an acknowledgment of the hurt and the recognition that coming to terms with the hurt of really ‘deep’ grief is incorporated into dealing and coping with her bereavement. Information about dealing and coping with bereavement and other expressions of feelings and avoiding comfort expressions has been advised. Support groups and individual therapies and therapies like CGT can be of great support. Some individuals may require dealing and coping with bereavement by pharmacological interventions of depression and/or anxiety symptoms caused by bereavement.
8. Safety Guarantees
The kind of accident that occurred indicates there is something wrong about these old models of aircraft, but rapid retirement of similar varieties of aircraft and reviewing them will make sure that an occurrence of this type of accident does not occur in the future. There is an element within the safety regulations of aviation that can improve incidents like this accident. In Louisville, even though there is a great deal of hurt left around in town, there is no less than the ‘spirit of determination.’
When Governor Andy Beshear called for support in his plea, “We’ve wrapped our arms around the families.” For those left struggling through the pain of bereavement, even though there may be a long way ahead of them, there is always hope for healing and recovery about this accident.
