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FAA Grounds MD-10s & DC-10s After MD-11 Crash
FAA grounds MD-10 and DC-10 fleets across the U.S. after the November 15, 2025 MD-11 crash in Louisville that killed 14 people.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has grounded all MD-10 and DC-10 aircraft in the United States following the November 15, 2025 MD-11 crash in Louisville, Kentucky, which killed 14 people. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the accident; preliminary reports and witness accounts indicate an engine and pylon detached during takeoff.
The emergency directive requires inspections and repairs for affected fleets, including cargo freighters and converted firefighting aircraft. Operators must remove affected aircraft from service until required checks are completed and any defects are fixed.
Major cargo carriers had already responded: UPS (IATA: 5X, ICAO: UPS) and FedEx (IATA: FX, ICAO: FDX) grounded their MD-11 fleets prior to the FAA action. The MD-11 and its related types — the MD-10 (a DC‑10 with upgraded avionics) and the DC-10 — continue to serve predominantly in cargo and specialty roles, which is why the directive covers a range of operators and mission profiles.
What the FAA order requires after the MD-11 crash
The FAA’s emergency airworthiness directive focuses inspections on pylon attachments and the structures linking engines to the wing and pylon, and mandates prompt repairs where issues are found. The agency said the measures are immediate and precautionary while the NTSB conducts its safety probe.
- MD-11 crash on November 15, 2025 in Louisville: 14 fatalities and an engine/pylon detachment reported.
- FAA grounded MD-10 and DC-10 aircraft across the U.S. and issued an emergency directive requiring inspections and repairs.
- Major operators UPS (IATA: 5X, ICAO: UPS) and FedEx (IATA: FX, ICAO: FDX) had already paused MD-11 operations.
- NTSB investigation is ongoing; regulators and airlines will update the public as findings emerge.
This action underscores a conservative safety posture: when a structural separation occurs during a critical flight phase, regulators and operators move quickly to check similar aircraft. Expect further updates from the NTSB and the FAA as investigators analyze wreckage, maintenance records and service bulletin compliance.
