Delivery companies UPS and FedEx have announced the temporary grounding of their fleets of McDonnell Douglas MD-11 cargo planes. This decision follows a tragic UPS MD-11 crash during takeoff in Kentucky on Tuesday, which resulted in the deaths of at least 14 people, including three crew members.
UPS stated that the grounding is “out of an abundance of caution and in the interest of safety,” following advice from the aircraft manufacturer. The MD-11 planes represent about 9% of UPS’s fleet. The company also assured customers that contingency plans are in place to maintain reliable service worldwide.
FedEx, which operates 28 MD-11 aircraft as part of its fleet of around 700 planes, has taken similar measures. The Tennessee-based company emphasized that their decision was also made “out of an abundance of caution.” FedEx is conducting a thorough safety review based on recommendations from the manufacturer and has implemented contingency plans within its integrated air-ground network to minimize service disruptions.
The crash occurred near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport. Footage of the incident showed the plane banking sharply to the left before crashing into an industrial area south of the airport. According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the aircraft’s left engine separated from the wing during the crash.
In an update released on Friday, NTSB board member Todd Inman revealed that analysis of the cockpit voice recorder indicated a “repeating bell” alarm sounded for 25 seconds as the crew struggled to control the aircraft. The plane reached approximately 100 feet above the ground before it went down.
Those on board the ill-fated flight included Captain Richard Wartenberg, First Officer Lee Truitt, and international relief officer Captain Dana Diamond. The investigation into the crash is ongoing.
https://www.businessinsider.com/fedex-ups-ground-fleet-md-11-cargo-planes-kentucky-crash-2025-11