Overview
- The FAA’s Emergency Airworthiness Directive 2025-23-51 grounds all MD-11 and MD-11F aircraft until inspections and approved corrective actions are completed.
- FedEx says its 25 operating MD-11s will enter inspections in the coming days, with each jet rejoining the fleet on a tail-by-tail basis once cleared.
- UPS and FedEx have parked their MD-11 fleets and are coordinating inspection work with Boeing and federal regulators.
- FedEx reports minimal expected disruption after activating spare aircraft, deferring some maintenance, routing freight to airline partners, and shifting more volume to its domestic ground network.
- Inspections are believed to emphasize engines and mounts following reports that the left engine and pylon detached in the Nov. 4 UPS crash near Louisville, which killed 14 people.