Federal regulators ordered all McDonnell Douglas MD-11 freighters grounded for inspection after UPS and FedEx suspended MD-11 flights following a UPS MD-11 crash in Louisville, Ky., that killed 14 people. The FAA’s emergency directive warned the same unsafe condition could exist on other MD-11s, and Boeing asked operators to halt flights while it conducts further engineering analysis.
What the MD-11 is and how many planes are affected
The MD-11 is a three-engine widebody freighter that entered service in the early 1990s; production ended in 2000. Boeing merged with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. MD-11s now make up a small portion of major carriers’ fleets: UPS operates 26 MD-11s out of more than 500 aircraft, and FedEx has about 28 among roughly 700 planes. A handful of other cargo carriers also fly MD-11s. Both UPS and FedEx have been gradually replacing or retiring MD-11s—UPS with Boeing 767s and FedEx planning to phase the type out by the decade’s end.
Could holiday deliveries be delayed?
UPS and FedEx say they have contingency plans to limit delivery disruptions but have not given specifics. Aviation analysts expect carriers to shift cargo where possible onto passenger aircraft, longer-haul jets, trucks, and rail to cover lost capacity. Each MD-11 can carry roughly 20,000 packages, so grounding several aircraft removes a significant amount of overnight airlift during the peak season.
How much delays matter will hinge on how long the grounding lasts. If MD-11s remain sidelined for more than a week or two as the holidays approach, the likelihood of noticeable delays increases, experts say. Carriers’ ability to tap spare aircraft and ground or rail capacity will shape the outcome.
Other factors and outlook
Recent FAA flight caps tied to a government shutdown have primarily affected daytime flights; overnight cargo operations have been less constrained. Industry forecasts project holiday package volume to rise about 5% from 2024 levels, to roughly 2.3 billion packages for the season. It is not yet clear whether UPS or FedEx will change published holiday shipping deadlines because of the MD-11 inspections.
What shoppers should do
Shipping experts advise ordering earlier than usual. Carriers will activate contingency plans and ground and rail networks can absorb additional volume, but earlier purchases reduce the risk that inspections, capacity limits, or cascading delays will affect deliveries.
What to watch next
Watch FAA and carrier announcements about inspection timelines and whether Boeing’s analysis identifies fixes or the need for longer groundings. Those updates will determine how much capacity is permanently or temporarily removed and whether carriers must expand contingency measures as the holiday peak approaches.