News / MD-11s grounded after UPS crash – integrators revamp services

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Concerns over cuts to slots at major US airports as the government shutdown continues have been overshadowed by the grounding of MD-11s.

Over the weekend, the FAA issued an order for MD-11s to be grounded, pending further inspection, following the tragic crash at UPS hub in Louisville last week.

Impacted carriers are UPS, FedEx and Western Global Airlines (WGA).

UPS’s 27 MD-11Fs account for about 9% of its fleet and are concentrated on longer-haul flows out of Louisville. FedEx has 28 of the type, about 4% of its fleet, which also operate on intercontinental trunk routes. WGA has some 15 MD-11Fs on its books, but only four appear to be in service.

FedEx is expected to reallocate cargo onto its 77Fs and 767Fs, use any spare capacity, and adjust its network accordingly.

In previous disruptions, the integrators have tended to protect their premium products first, as well as time-definite – economy packages are more likely to see delays – while also increasing aircraft utilisation or adding trucking or secondary hubs where needed. UPS also says it will try to minimise disruption, using other widebodies and partner capacity.

WGA tends to use its MD-11Fs for ad hoc and charter capacity, which could see demand switch to other ACMI providers, such as Kalitta. WGA recently won approval for 17 one-way charters from Shenzhen to Miami between August and September, using MD-11Fs.

UBS said today that the groundings could benefit rival DHL.

“The duration of the grounding is unclear and it depends on the speed of the investigation and its conclusions. Based on historical precedent, we believe it could last anywhere between a few weeks to a few months, depending on the outcome of the investigations.

“While FedEx and UPS have announced that contingency planning has been put in place, the temporary grounding could tighten express integrators capacity during the peak 2025 season, which may bring temporary benefits to DHL in terms of market share gains or better pricing power in November/December.”

UBS added that the aircraft were primarily used on domestic or North American routes – with just four of the 55 operating in the past few weeks on intercontinental routes, which included US-UK, intra-Asia, and US-China.

The majority of the other aircraft were operating intra-US, with a few on US-Canada.

An FAA Emergency Airworthiness Directive (AD) “prohibits further flight until the airplane is inspected and all applicable corrective actions are performed using a method approved by the manager, AIR-520, Continued Operational Safety Branch, FAA”.

It adds: “This emergency AD was prompted by an accident where the left-hand engine and pylon detached from the airplane during takeoff. The cause of the detachment is currently under investigation. This condition could result in loss of continued safe flight and landing.

“The FAA is issuing this AD because the agency has determined the unsafe condition is likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.”

You can see video of the accident here. At least 14 people died in the crash, including a three-year old on the ground.

According to The Aviation Herald, after the UPS aircraft was cleared for take-off, a plume of fire appeared on its left side.

“The CCTV show the left-hand engine separated from the aircraft during the takeoff run. The debris field is about half a mile long. The NTSB is also looking into maintenance of the aircraft.

“Multiple pieces of engine fan blades were found on runway 17R, along with the main component of the #1 engine, all debris was transferred to a secure facility.

“Maintenance data have been collected from San Antonio, TX, where the aircraft had undergone maintenance for several weeks. Immediately prior to the departure and crash of the aircraft the NTSB is not aware that any maintenance has been done to the aircraft or that the aircraft was delayed.”

Meanwhile, FedEx and UPS are less likely to be impacted by the FAA slot cuts, as most of their freighters tend to operate overnight, outside the FAA’s 6am to 10pm window.