Federal investigators have unveiled alarming photographs showing the engine detaching from a UPS cargo plane that crashed in Kentucky two weeks ago, resulting in 14 fatalities. The images, released by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), depict cracks in the left wing's engine mount. A series of six photos illustrate the engine's rear beginning to separate, followed by a burst of flames as it ascends over the wing. The subsequent image captures the wing engulfed in fire, with the burning engine soaring above it. The final photo shows the aircraft attempting to lift off, but the MD-11 only managed to ascend 30 feet (9.1 metres) before the disaster unfolded. The NTSB's preliminary report, based on data from the flight recorder, details the tragic events of the November 4 crash near Muhammad Ali International Airport in Louisville. The incident claimed the lives of three pilots aboard the plane and 11 individuals on the ground. According to the NTSB, the aircraft was not yet due for a detailed inspection of the critical engine mount components that exhibited fractures. It was scheduled to complete nearly 7,000 more takeoffs and landings before its next inspection, which had last occurred in October 2021. Jeff Guzzetti, a former federal crash investigator, commented, "It appears UPS was conducting this maintenance within the required time frame, but I’m sure the FAA is now going to ponder whether that time frame is adequate." The timeline for when the cracks began to develop on the 34-year-old aircraft remains unclear, raising questions about whether they could have been overlooked during previous inspections. Aviation expert John Cox described fatigue cracks as "normal wear and tear on an aircraft," noting that metal parts like engine mounts vibrate during flights and will eventually develop cracks. He emphasised the need for regular inspections and maintenance of such components. The NTSB report provided the first new details since board member Todd Inman briefed reporters on November 7. He revealed that the cockpit voice recorder captured an alarm sounding approximately 37 seconds after the UPS crew initiated takeoff thrust. Sean Garber, who operates an auto salvage yard near the airport that was directly impacted by the crash, stated, "A man-made, human error tragedy, and that’s what we believe this is." Following the crash, all MD-11 aircraft operated by UPS, FedEx, and Western Global, along with a few related DC-10s, have been grounded pending inspections and repairs. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has yet to specify the requirements for these inspections. Cox noted that air carriers will face difficult decisions, as many were already planning to retire these aircraft in the coming years. He stated, "If you have to pull the engines off and do some sort of visual inspection or replacement, that’s going to run into a significant cost." MD-11 aircraft constitute approximately 9% of the UPS fleet and 4% of the FedEx fleet, according to the companies. Earlier this week, Bill Moore, president of UPS Airlines, confirmed that the company is collaborating with investigators to ascertain the primary cause of the crash.