By David Shepardson
WASHINGTON, May 11 (Reuters) – FedEx said Monday it has begun resuming use of its MD-11 airplanes after the Federal Aviation Administration lifted an order that had barred flights following a fatal crash last year of a UPS cargo plane in Kentucky that killed 15 people.
The FAA said after an extensive review it approved Boeing’s protocol for returning the planes to service that includes maintenance and inspection requirements.
• FedEx said it worked with Boeing and the FAA to validate that required inspections and maintenance actions were completed on two of its 28 MD-11s.
• Fifteen people, including three plane crew members, died in the fiery crash at Louisville Airport.
• FedEx earlier reported the grounding could cost it up to $175 million.
• The NTSB said its investigation found fatigue cracks in a support structure on the left pylon that connects to the wing and the plane’s engine, known as the bearing race.
• The NTSB will hold a two-day investigative hearing into the crash next week.
(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Mark Porter and Edward Tobin)
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