The plane at the center of a deadly Kentucky crash has been a workhorse in the cargo industry for years, but it had gained a reputation as an aircraft that was behind the times.

The MD-11 used to carry passengers, but that ceased over a decade ago, primarily due to its high fuel and maintenance costs, experts told USA TODAY. Its tenure as a cargo plane is also likely nearing an end for the same reasons.

“The model was antiquated by the time it came out – except, of course, for cargo. It’s a workhorse,” Mary Schiavo, a former U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General, said in a phone interview. It's a "big, heavy" aircraft, Schiavo said.

While the jet has had a number of safety incidents, its reputation and fate in the aviation industry has been dominated by economic woes.

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