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FedEx has announced that the McDonnell Douglas MD-11F freighters will return to active service starting in May. This follows a six-month hiatus imposed after the fatal crash of a UPS MD-11F in November 2025. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) subsequently issued an emergency directive requiring a comprehensive inspection of the MD-11F fleet. FedEx had already announced in January that it was working with Boeing and the FAA to facilitate the return of the aircraft by the end of the fourth quarter, which concludes on May 31.
The FedEx fleet includes a total of 29 MD-11F, which are currently parked. Most of these freighters are over 30 years old, with the oldest model being 36 years old. FedEx’s decision to return the MD-11F to service may surprise some in the industry, as the age of the aircraft raises concerns. In contrast, UPS has retired all MD-11F in the fourth quarter of 2025 and plans to replace them with Boeing 767F.
Return to service after inspections
The FedEx MD-11F fleet was temporarily grounded following the UPS accident that claimed 15 lives. The accident occurred when the left engine detached from the wing during climb, leading to a loss of control of the aircraft. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has indicated in its preliminary findings that a fatigue failure in the engine mount was a contributing factor. This vulnerability had already been addressed in a maintenance memo from Boeing in 2011.
The FAA initially grounded the MD-11 following the incident but did not rule out a reauthorization, provided the necessary inspections and repairs are completed. FedEx plans to gradually return the MD-11F to service once the required measures are finalized.
The impact of the MD-11F grounding on global freight capacity was limited, as these aircraft were primarily used on domestic routes. However, the return of the MD-11F could increase FedEx’s freight capacity, while other operators like Western Global Airlines also have MD-11F in their fleet that are currently not in operation.
