‘Devastating’: MD-11 grounded indefinitely, throwing Western Global Airlines into crisis
November 28, 2025
Western Global Airlines has begun furloughing pilots after the worldwide grounding of the MD-11 was extended indefinitely, with Boeing and regulators warning that the inspections and structural repairs required to return the tri-jet to service will take far longer than first expected.
The crisis now threatens the 2025 Christmas freight season, as UPS and FedEx scramble to plug widebody capacity gaps across their global networks.
The grounding was imposed after the fatal crash of UPS Flight 2976 in Louisville on 4 November, when the aircraft’s left engine and pylon separated seconds after take-off. The FAA issued an emergency order grounding all MD-11 and MD-11F aircraft, later extending the directive to certain DC-10 series aircraft due to structural similarities.
Read more: Is the MD-11 aircraft the same as the DC-10?
Boeing warns MD-11 grounding will last months as repairs become more complex
Western Global told staff in an internal memo that it had originally expected a short interruption, believing a non-invasive inspection regime might allow flights to resume in mid-November.
That optimism collapsed after Boeing informed operators that the MD-11 would require “more and highly invasive inspections, as well as repairs and part replacements”.
The airline said the new requirements mean the grounding has become effectively open-ended. Boeing also told UPS employees in a separate internal memo, quoted by the Associated Press, that inspections and repairs would be “more extensive than initially expected”.
Reuters later cited a source involved in the process saying the industry should not expect agreed return-to-service criteria before 2026. With no FAA-approved inspection methodology in place, the type is now grounded for an undetermined period.
Western Global Airlines calls the MD-11 situation “devastating”
The consequences for Western Global, whose fleet is dominated by the MD-11, have been immediate and severe.
“This is devastating to WGA,” said Tom Romnios, vice president of human resources at Western Global Airlines, in a memo to employees. “Even though WGA has a perfect safety record, [the airline] is the most negatively affected by the UPS crash…The current situation is untenable, threatens the company’s survival, and leaves WGA no choice.”
| Aircraft type | Active | Parked / Stored | Total | Avg age (years) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing 747-400F | 3 | 1 | 4 | 31.4 |
| McDonnell Douglas MD-11F * | 0 | 15 | 15 | 30.4 |
| Total fleet | 3 | 16 | 19 | 30.6 |
* All MD-11Fs parked due to the global grounding under the FAA emergency directive following the UPS 2976 crash. Fleet and age data: Planespotters.net.
Although the MD-11 fleet at Western Global looks significant, digging into the data shows at least eight of the aircraft were already parked or in storage before the UPS incident. Nevertheless, seven MD-11s grounded out of a fleet of just 10 active aircraft could be hard for the airline to survive.
Romnios noted that, in the 12-year history of Western Global, the airline has never suffered any furloughs or pay cuts. According to the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), WGA has 147 pilots on its payroll. Citing an unnamed source, FreightWaves says around 75 have so far received furlough notices.
Cargo carriers activate contingency plans ahead of Christmas peak season
The MD-11 remains a backbone long-haul freighter for UPS, FedEx and Western Global. Its sudden withdrawal at the start of the peak shipping period has forced operators into rapid contingency planning.
UPS has parked its entire MD-11 fleet and activated its 747-8F and 767 networks, while FedEx has redeployed spare aircraft and contracted additional charter lift. Both carriers insist they will maintain service levels through December, but network planners privately acknowledge reduced surge capacity.
Industry analysts say that while major parcel carriers can protect core Christmas volumes, some international lanes are likely to see increased pressure, reduced flexibility and higher seasonal rates as the grounding drags on.
For Western Global, which lacks the fallback capacity of its larger rivals, the impact has already become existential.
NTSB identifies fatigue cracking in MD-11 pylon mount after deadly UPS crash
Preliminary NTSB findings confirm that the left engine pylon on UPS 2976 suffered structural failure immediately after take-off. Metallurgical analysis identified fatigue cracking in the aft pylon mount, with the structure failing under normal rotation loads.
The engine separated from the wing before the aircraft briefly climbed and descended into an industrial area, killing all on board.
With the investigation ongoing and Boeing still developing the engineering data needed for recertification, the MD-11’s return to service is expected to require extensive pylon inspections, component replacements and possibly redesign work.
Around 70 MD-11s remain in global service, nearly all as freighters. With the grounding stretching into 2026, the industry faces a prolonged realignment of long-haul cargo capacity. For Western Global, the timeline for recalling pilots remains completely unclear.
