UPS and FedEx Ground MD-11 Fleets After Fatal Kentucky Crash

UPS and FedEx have temporarily grounded all McDonnell Douglas MD-11 aircraft in their fleets following a deadly crash at the UPS Worldport hub in Louisville, Kentucky, earlier this week. Both logistics giants said the decision was made “out of an abundance of caution” and on the recommendation of the aircraft’s manufacturer.

The MD-11 model accounts for about nine percent of UPS’s fleet and roughly four percent of FedEx’s aircraft, according to company figures. “We made this decision proactively at the recommendation of the aircraft manufacturer,” UPS said in a statement late Friday. “Nothing is more important to us than the safety of our employees and the communities we serve.”

FedEx confirmed that it is also grounding its MD-11s while conducting a “thorough safety review.” Boeing, which merged with McDonnell Douglas in 1997, has not publicly commented on the specific reason for the recommendation.

The grounding follows Tuesday’s crash at UPS’s global air hub, which killed 14 people, including the three pilots operating the aircraft bound for Honolulu. The incident occurred shortly after takeoff, when an alarm sounded in the cockpit, indicating a possible malfunction.

According to National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) member Todd Inman, the cockpit warning bell began sounding roughly 37 seconds after the crew called for takeoff thrust and continued for 25 seconds. During that time, the pilots attempted to control the plane as it lifted off the runway with its left wing ablaze and an engine missing. The aircraft then crashed, erupting into a massive fireball that destroyed several nearby buildings.

Investigators have not yet determined the cause of the malfunction. “There are different types of alarms with varying meanings,” Inman said, adding that it could take months before a transcript of the cockpit voice recorder is made public.

Former federal crash investigator Jeff Guzzetti told the Associated Press that the bell likely indicated an engine fire. “They were likely past their critical decision speed to remain on the runway and stop safely,” he said, noting that investigators will examine whether the crew had any viable options once the emergency began.

The MD-11 involved in the crash was built in 1991 and had undergone maintenance in San Antonio earlier this year, though it remains unclear what work was carried out.

Operations at UPS’s Worldport facility, which employs over 20,000 people and handles around 300 flights daily, resumed Wednesday night. The hub processes more than 400,000 packages an hour and is central to the company’s global overnight delivery network.

The NTSB investigation remains ongoing, with officials reviewing flight data, maintenance records, and video footage from multiple sources capturing the moment of the crash.