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FAA Orders MD-11 Grounding After UPS Crash
FAA orders MD-11 grounding after the November 4 UPS crash at Louisville Worldport.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered the immediate grounding of all McDonnell Douglas MD-11 aircraft in the United States following the November 4 crash of a UPS MD-11 at Louisville’s Worldport that killed 14 people, including three crew members. The directive arrives after major cargo carriers had already paused MD-11 operations while safety teams assessed the risk.
The FAA cited the risk of engine detachment and potential loss of safe flight, and said the suspension will remain in effect pending inspections and engineering analysis. Boeing, the manufacturer that later inherited the MD-11 line, recommended operators suspend flights. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation into the crash, which authorities say involved engine separation and a catastrophic fire during takeoff.
MD-11 grounding: what it means for cargo operators
The grounding directly affects UPS and FedEx, both of which had moved to sideline MD-11s in the immediate aftermath. Western Global Airlines — which the FAA noted has 16 MD-11s, most currently in storage — is also covered by the order. The MD-11 model represented roughly 9% of UPS’s and about 4% of FedEx’s fleets before the suspension, raising concerns about capacity as the holiday shipping season approaches.
- Immediate MD-11 grounding in the United States while inspections and engineering reviews proceed.
- Operators have grounded MD-11s voluntarily; FAA order formalizes the ban pending remedial actions.
- NTSB investigation focused on engine separation and in-flight fire during takeoff.
Logistics and routing teams at major integrators will likely reroute cargo, lease temporary capacity, or shift workload to other freighter types to keep networks running. Regulators will require technical inspections and corrective engineering input before lifting the MD-11 grounding. For now, safety checks and the NTSB’s on-scene work are the priorities.
Families and colleagues of the victims continue to seek answers as investigators comb wreckage and review flight data. The FAA and NTSB have not yet indicated a timeline for returning MD-11s to service; any clearance will depend on the outcome of inspections and whether design or maintenance mitigations are recommended.
