FAA Grounds MD-11 Cargo Jets After Deadly Kentucky Crash, Boeing Calls for Safety Review
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued an immediate order grounding all McDonnell Douglas MD-11 cargo planes following a fatal UPS aircraft crash in Louisville, Kentucky, that claimed at least 14 lives and left 9 others missing. The directive emphasizes thorough inspections of these aircraft before they can resume flights, underscoring critical safety concerns raised by the crash.
On November 5, 2025, a UPS MD-11 cargo plane suffered a catastrophic failure during takeoff when its left engine reportedly detached, resulting in a tragic crash. The incident prompted investigators and aviation authorities to probe the structural integrity and design of the aircraft’s engine mount and related systems.
“Due to the nature of the engine separation and the potential risk that other MD-11 aircraft may share the same design vulnerabilities, the FAA is taking proactive steps by grounding these planes,” an FAA spokesperson stated. This precautionary measure affects approximately 70 MD-11 aircraft globally, which are primarily used by cargo operators.
Boeing, the manufacturer responsible for the MD-11, has supported the FAA’s decision. The company’s safety review board has recommended further engineering analyses to understand the causes of the engine separation. “Additional safety exploration is critical before these aircraft return to operation,” Boeing said in a statement.
Major cargo operators, including UPS, have complied promptly. UPS announced that MD-11 jets constitute about 9% of its fleet and confirmed that contingency plans are in place to maintain service levels while these aircraft remain grounded. The company emphasized that safety remains its top priority amid these unprecedented circumstances.
The crash is one of the deadliest involving the MD-11, a trijet first introduced in the 1990s and widely used for freight due to its payload capacity and range. While the plane has had a generally safe operational history, this incident has highlighted potential issues requiring urgent attention.
FAA officials and Boeing engineers are collaborating on an extensive inspection protocol that will assess all in-service MD-11s for similar mechanical risks. Until these inspections and any necessary modifications are completed, the FAA mandate prohibits all MD-11 flights. The timeline for clearance to resume flights remains uncertain, pending investigation results.
The crash investigation continues as emergency crews complete recovery operations, and technical teams collect data from the wreckage. The aviation community is closely monitoring these developments to prevent future tragedies involving this aircraft model.