In brief
Following a tragic crash on November 4 in Louisville, Kentucky, which resulted in 14 fatalities and numerous injuries, UPS announced that its MD-11 fleet will not be operational during the critical holiday season. The estimated timeline for returning the aircraft to service has shifted from weeks to several months as the company undertakes rigorous inspections and potential repairs in compliance with FAA regulations.
A fleet of planes that UPS grounded after a deadly crash isn’t expected to be back in service during the peak holiday season due to inspections and possible repairs, the company said Wednesday in an internal memo.
The airline expects it will be several months before its McDonnell Douglas MD-11 fleet returns to service as it works to meet Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) guidelines, said the memo from UPS Airlines president Bill Moore to employees. The process was originally estimated to take weeks but is now expected to take several months.
A fiery MD-11 plane crash on Nov. 4 in Louisville, Kentucky, killed 14 people and injured at least 23 when the left engine detached during takeoff. Cargo carriers grounded their McDonnell Douglas MD-11 fleets shortly after, ahead of a directive from the FAA.
“Regarding the MD-11 fleet, Boeing’s ongoing evaluation shows that inspections and potential repairs will be more extensive than initially expected,” Moore wrote in the memo.
A UPS spokesperson confirmed the company will rely on contingency plans to deliver for customers throughout the peak season, emphasizing that it “will take the time needed to ensure that every aircraft is safe.”
The 109 remaining MD-11 airliners, averaging more than 30 years old, are exclusively used to haul cargo for package delivery companies. MD-11s make up about 9% of the UPS airline fleet and 4% of the FedEx fleet.
Boeing, which took over as the manufacturer of MD-11s since merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997, stated it is “working diligently to provide instructions and technical support to operators” to meet the FAA’s requirements. The FAA has indicated that Boeing will develop the procedures for inspections and any necessary corrective actions, pending approval from the FAA.
