Says Age of Aircraft Raises Questions About Safety Oversight
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Aviation attorney Keith Williams of The Keith Williams Law Group is urging federal investigators to review maintenance and inspection records following last Monday’s fiery crash of a UPS cargo plane shortly after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport.
The McDonnell Douglas MD-11F, bound for Honolulu, reportedly carried 26,000 gallons of fuel when it went down just after 5 p.m. local time. As it took off, the left wing caught fire and the left engine fell off. Fourteen people – including the three crew members – were killed and another 12 were hospitalized. The crash caused an explosion that leveled nearby businesses, including a recycling facility, where three employees were killed.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that, two months ago, the plane had a crack and evidence of corrosion while it was at a facility in San Antonio, Texas. Once those were fixed, the plane resumed flying on an almost daily basis.
UPS said, out of an abundance of caution, they grounded all MD-11 aircraft. McDonnell-Douglas, meanwhile, announced it will phase out the MD-11.
“This accident raises serious questions about whether proper maintenance protocols were followed and if those repairs were satisfactorily made,” said Mr. Williams. “These aircraft are aging workhorses of the cargo fleet. The NTSB needs to determine whether mechanical or oversight issues played a role before tragedy strikes again.”
Mr. Williams, who has represented victims and families in major aviation disasters nationwide, added that the age of the MD-11F model should be a central focus of the investigation. The plane type first entered service in the early 1990s and remains a mainstay in cargo transport fleets worldwide.
“The public has a right to know whether this was an isolated failure or a symptom of a larger maintenance problem,” Mr. Williams said.
The NTSB has not yet released details on the possible cause of the crash.
In addition to his practice, Mr. Williams is the Past Chair of the American Association for Justice’s Aviation Litigation Section, and he is a member of the Aviation and Space Law Committee of the American Bar Association’s Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section. Mr. Williams is also a member and past president of the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association.
For more information, call (615) 444-2900 or visit www.keithwilliamslawgroup.com.
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* Photo is attached.
About Keith Williams Law Group
With two convenient locations, one in downtown Nashville and the other on the historic town square in Lebanon, Keith Williams Law Group can help its clients achieve the maximum possible compensation for their injuries. Its attorneys represent those who have been injured as a result of car accidents, trucking accidents, motorcycle accidents, aviation accidents, highway work zone accidents, defective products, and trucker broker negligence. For more information, call (615) 444-2900 or visit www.keithwilliamslawgroup.com.
