Originally Posted by
Recliner
I’m not sure that comparison is accurate.
FedEx and WGA did not have access to the same information UPS did at the time. UPS had immediate access to frame-by-frame, high-definition video of the takeoff sequence from its own cameras, captured moments after the event. Yet, they still decided to let the MD continue to fly. Even on the day of the crash.
FedEx and WGA made their decisions without that level of detail. In fact, many of us were surprised when the NTSB’s first preliminary report revealed that the source of the frame-by-frame takeoff footage was UPS.
I had pics of an engine lying by the side of the runway within hours. The tug driver video (viral on the Internet within the initial hour) showed #2 was affected. What did the frame by frame change beyond confirmation of what was already obvious? Also, NTSB would have probably had access to UPS’s video pretty early on so they could have acted…and we don’t even know if that was the smoking gun that led to the grounding or just a data point confirmation after some other evidence forced their move. As I understand it, it was discovery of the fatigue cracking on the pylon that led to the grounding…