After Louisville Incident, UPS and FedEx Ground MD-11 Fleet Amid Safety Review

UPS and FedEx have temporarily grounded dozens of MD-11 cargo aircraft at Boeing's recommendation following a fatal crash involving the same model in Louisville, Kentucky.

Boeing Recommends Fleet Suspension

Boeing urged all operators of MD-11 aircraft to halt flight operations while it conducts additional engineering analysis in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The move follows Tuesday's UPS crash that killed 14 people, including three crew members. Boeing said this is just a precautionary measure as investigations continue.

UPS, FedEx Contingency Plans

UPS operates 29 MD-11s, which make up around 9% of its air fleet. The company said it has contingency plans in place to maintain deliveries and expects the suspension to be temporary.

FedEx, which has 28 MD-11s, making up roughly 4% of its fleet, also confirmed it is rerouting operations through its integrated air-ground network to minimize disruptions.

Broader Impact on Air Cargo

The FAA recently ordered a 10% reduction in air traffic at 40 major airports due to a government shutdown, potentially tightening domestic cargo capacity.

While both carriers said they?ˉre working to keep deliveries on schedule, the combination of grounded aircraft and restricted airspace could create short-term delays depending on how long they last.

Image Credit: Shutterstock/viper-zero

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