Photo Credit: Angel DiBillio
FedEx has confirmed it will not permanently retire its MD-11 fleet following a fatal accident and the subsequent grounding of the aircraft type. Instead, the cargo carrier is working with Boeing and U.S. aviation safety regulators on a plan to return the aircraft to service, with a tentative target date of 31 May 2026.
The company says it will carry out any required inspections, maintenance actions, or additional reviews identified during ongoing investigations. FedEx has pledged full cooperation with authorities to ensure the aircraft’s eventual return to operations meets the highest safety standards.
At present, FedEx has 29 McDonnell Douglas MD-11 freighters grounded. With an average age of 32.1 years, the type is among the oldest in the carrier’s fleet of nearly 500 aircraft, alongside its Boeing 757 freighters.
Debate over the MD-11’s future has intensified in recent months. A Boeing service letter issued more than a decade ago highlighted a cracked component, though it was not considered a direct safety threat at the time. According to the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the MD-11 involved in the UPS accident featured a design — specifically the aft-mount bulkhead spherical bearing assembly — consistent with part number S00399-1, which was referenced in Boeing’s 2011 service communication.
UPS Takes a Different Path
While FedEx moves toward a potential return to service for the MD-11, competitor UPS has chosen a different course. Following its fourth-quarter 2025 results, UPS announced it would write off its MD-11 losses and permanently retire the aircraft type.
UPS said the decision supports accelerated fleet modernisation, allowing it to reduce total fleet numbers by 10% while shifting toward newer, more fuel-efficient aircraft and streamlining overall operations.
The MD-11’s future has remained under scrutiny since a fatal crash involving a UPS-operated aircraft in early November 2025. The accident claimed the lives of three crew members and multiple people on the ground.
Ongoing investigations are examining how the issues outlined in Boeing’s earlier service letter were incorporated into maintenance programmes, as well as past correspondence between Boeing and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
A Complex Road Ahead for FedEx
For FedEx, retaining the MD-11 is closely tied to maintaining cargo capacity. Unlike UPS, the airline is choosing not to retire the type and instead plans to reintegrate it into operations once safety reviews are complete.
The company says it will continue working closely with Boeing, the FAA, and other relevant stakeholders to support a safe and carefully managed return to service, with May 2026 as the current goal.