Grounding of All MD-11 Planes by UPS and FedEx After Fatal Crash
Major shipping companies UPS and FedEx have grounded their entire fleets of McDonnell Douglas MD-11 cargo planes following a deadly crash at UPS’s Louisville hub that resulted in 14 fatalities. The Federal Aviation Administration has also ordered inspections of all MD-11 aircraft nationwide.
The crash on Tuesday occurred when a UPS MD-11 bound for Honolulu experienced engine failure during takeoff. The left engine detached, leading to the wing catching fire. Cockpit recordings captured a warning bell ringing for 25 seconds as pilots struggled to control the aircraft before it crashed in a massive fireball.
Boeing, which acquired McDonnell Douglas in 1997, recommended the grounding “out of an abundance of caution” pending further engineering analysis. UPS stated that MD-11s represent 9% of its fleet, while FedEx confirmed 4% of its aircraft are affected. Both companies have activated contingency plans to minimize shipping disruptions during the peak holiday season.
Source: https://www.npr.org/2025/11/08/g-s1-97052/ups-fedex-ground-md-11-planes