FedEx and UPS ground global MD-11F fleets following Louisville crash
November 8, 2025
Cargo giants FedEx and UPS have both decided to ground their fleets of McDonnell Douglas MD-11 aircraft, the companies shared on Saturday, 8 November. This comes after a UPS aircraft crashed at the carrier’s global aviation hub in Louisville, Kentucky, on Tuesday. 14 people died in the accident.
Only three airlines currently operate the MD-11F. The final operator, Western Global Airlines, continues to fly the type.
Read more: How many operational MD-11 are left?
UPS and FedEx ground their global MD-11 fleets
Both UPS and FedEx have announced that they will ground their MD-11F fleets “out of an abundance of caution”, the carriers said.
In a statement released on Saturday, UPS stated that the decision was made “at the recommendation of the aircraft manufacturer.” Although initially produced by McDonnell Douglas, manufacturing was taken over by Boeing in 1997 when it bought the company.
“Nothing is more important to us than the safety of our employees and the communities we serve,” UPS continued. “Contingency plans are in place to ensure we can continue to deliver the reliable service our customers around the world count on.”
FedEx also said that the recommendation came from the manufacturer. It added that it is “immediately implementing contingency plans within our integrated air-ground network to minimise disruptions. Our teams are focused on delivering the highest standards of safety and service for our customers and team members.’’
Global McDonnell Douglas 11F fleets
Overview of current MD-11F cargo aircraft fleets.
| Airline | Number in fleet |
|---|---|
| FedEx | 29 |
| UPS | 27 |
| Western Global Airlines | 15 |
Information from planespotters.net, correct as of 8 November 2025
It is worth noting that for UPS, this represents around 9% of its fleet. MD-11Fs account for roughly 6% of the FedEx fleet. The story is a little different for Western Global Airlines, as the aircraft forms the bulk of its operation. Aside from its 15 MD-11Fs, planespotters.net shows it also flies four Boeing 747-400Fs.
The latest in the accident investigation
The accident on Tuesday involved a UPS MD-11F registered N259UP. It was operating UPS Flight 2976, a domestic service connecting Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport with Honolulu Daniel K. Inouye International Airport.
At 17:15 local time, the aircraft crashed just shortly after takeoff, with a “plume of fire” breaking out around the aircraft’s left wing. One of its three engines detached from the left wing on takeoff.
Since the accident, the United States’ National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has been investigating. In a media briefing earlier this week, the agency confirmed that the 34-year-old plane had just undergone a heavy maintenance check in San Antonio, from 3 September until 18 October.
“We are aware that this aircraft was there in San Antonio,” NTSB member Todd Inman explained. “We will look at every piece of maintenance that was done, even from the San Antonio time, all the way to the date of the flight.”
Currently, no evidence suggests that maintenance errors caused the crash. The NTSB says it will provide updates as the investigation continues. Capt. Richard Wartenberg, First Officer Lee Truitt and International Relief Officer Capt. Dana Diamond were onboard.
Featured image: robin | Adobe Stock
