UPS and FedEx Temporarily Ground MD-11 Aircraft Following Fatal Crash
In a precautionary move, UPS and FedEx have decided to temporarily ground their McDonnell Douglas MD-11 aircraft after a tragic crash at the UPS global aviation hub in Louisville, Kentucky. The decision was made late Friday, following recommendations from the aircraft manufacturer.
The MD-11 models are a key part of both companies’ fleets, constituting about 9% of UPS’s aircraft and 4% of FedEx’s. “We made this decision proactively at the recommendation of the aircraft manufacturer,” UPS stated. “Nothing is more important to us than the safety of our employees and the communities we serve.”
FedEx echoed this sentiment, announcing via email that they are undertaking a comprehensive safety review based on the manufacturer’s advice.
Boeing, which acquired McDonnell Douglas in 1997, has yet to respond to inquiries from The Associated Press regarding the rationale behind their recommendation.
The crash, which occurred on Tuesday at UPS Worldport, tragically claimed 14 lives, including those of the three pilots on board the MD-11, which was en route to Honolulu.
According to Todd Inman from the National Transportation Safety Board, the cockpit voice recorder revealed that a warning bell sounded just seconds after the crew initiated takeoff thrust. This bell continued for 25 seconds as the pilots struggled to control the aircraft, which had caught fire and lost an engine on its left wing.
Former federal crash investigator Jeff Guzzetti suggested that the bell might have been an engine fire warning. “It occurred at a point in the takeoff where they were likely past their decision speed to abort the takeoff,” Guzzetti explained to The Associated Press. “They were likely past their critical decision speed to remain on the runway and stop safely.”
Numerous videos captured the dramatic event, showing the aircraft crashing into nearby businesses and erupting in flames. This footage, sourced from phones, cars, and security cameras, provides investigators with various perspectives on the incident.
The MD-11 involved in the crash was built in 1991 and had been undergoing maintenance in San Antonio for over a month up until mid-October. Details of the maintenance performed remain unclear.
UPS’s Louisville hub, its largest facility, employs over 20,000 people, processes 300 flights daily, and sorts more than 400,000 packages per hour. Despite the tragedy, UPS Worldport resumed operations on Wednesday night, focusing on its Next Day Air service.
This photo provided by the National Transportation Safety Board shows UPS plane crash scene on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025 in Louisville, Ky. AP/National Transportation Safety Board
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
