FAA Order Covers All MD-11 And MD-11F Aircraft

Four days after the fatal crash of UPS Flight 2976 in Louisville, Kentucky, the FAA issued an Emergency Airworthiness Directive that grounds all McDonnell Douglas MD-11 and MD-11F for structural inspections.

The Emergency AD 2025-23-51 was issued on November 8, 2025, in the aftermath of the crash that occurred on Thursday evening November 4 as the UPS flight was departing Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (KSDF) in Kentucky. Three crewmembers perished along with 11 other people on the ground.

The NTSB confirmed that the No.1 engine and its pylon separated from the airplane shortly after it had reached V1. The airplane continued to climb to about 150 feet before rolling left, impacting several buildings, and igniting a major fire that destroyed the aircraft, which came to rest about a half mile beyond the runway end.

The FAA issued the EAD on an interim basis but warned that the condition identified after the crash could “compromise the aircraft’s ability to remain under control and land safely,” and said inspections and any corrective actions must be accomplished “before further flight.”

The two largest operators of the MD-11 aircraft, UPS and FedEx, had already grounded their fleets of about 50 airplanes after Boeing, which had acquired the aircraft program through its merger with McDonnell Douglas, advised a preliminary halt to operations.

The two cargo carriers operate 26 MD-11s (UPS) and 28 (FedEx). Those aircraft comprise 9% and 4% of their respective fleets, and both companies have indicated they are transitioning to the newer Boeing 767 and 777 aircraft. That transition may now be accelerated to minimize disruptions in cargo transport. Western Global Airlines is the other operator of the aircraft and has already parked most of their fleet.

FMI:  www.faa.gov/