FedEx and UPS have grounded their McDonnell Douglas MD-11 fleets following a recommendation from the aircraft’s manufacturer. The decision comes days after a UPS MD-11 crashed shortly after takeoff from Louisville, Kentucky, killing three crew members and several people on the ground.
FedEx said it made the decision “out of an abundance of caution” while it conducts a safety review of its 28 MD-11s. The company added that it is implementing contingency plans across its network “to minimize disruptions.”
UPS also confirmed that its MD-11s, which make up roughly nine percent of its fleet, have been grounded.
“Out of an abundance of caution and in the interest of safety, we have made the decision to temporarily ground our MD-11 fleet,” the carrier said in a statement. “Nothing is more important to us than the safety of our employees and the communities we serve.” UPS added that contingency plans are in place to maintain reliable service.
Investigation Continues
The Boeing recommendation, which both carriers are following, stems from the Nov. 4 crash of a UPS MD-11 departing Louisville for Honolulu. Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board have recovered the flight data and cockpit voice recorders and said early analysis captured an aural warning during the takeoff roll.
There are 57 MD-11s currently in service worldwide, according to fleet data from aviation analytics company Cirium. In addition to FedEx and UPS, Western Global Airlines also operates four MD-11s.
Both FedEx and UPS said their reviews are underway and that service disruptions will be kept to a minimum as they temporarily operate without the MD-11.
