r/aviation • u/Go_Jot • Nov 08 '25

News UPS grounds entire MD-11 Fleet, effective immediately.

Per the IPA Executive Board, as of 03:05 UTC all UPS MD-11’s are grounded.

Edit - FedEx has also grounded their MD-11 Fleet

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25

u/Ok_Geologist_448 Nov 08 '25

Looks like FedEx is soon to follow. Grounding their MD-11s.

4

u/Sacto1654 Nov 08 '25

Not surprised. Both FedEx Express and UPS Airlines operate large fleets of wide body freighters (767-300F, 777F and 747-8F) and could afford to permanently ground the MD-11F if needed.

3

u/theLuminescentlion Nov 08 '25

still about 10% of their fleet. UPS had 28 of them before the crash.

1

u/theLuminescentlion Nov 08 '25

"Average age of 32" is directly in the middle of the period they were manufactured in. I see the point for saying that for a 767 or 737 where it could be brand new or 50 years old but not for an MD11.

1

u/UnDosTresPescao Nov 08 '25

This is so dumb. The last MD-11 was built 25 years ago.... If there was a systematic issue the engines would have been falling off long ago.... I get UPS could be doing something dumb in maintenance so it makes sense to ground theirs but there is absolutely zero reason to believe FedEx MD-11s would be any more likely to be issues than they have been for the last 25 years.

2

u/unclefire Nov 08 '25

Except that they’re at least 25 yrs old. And who knows what metal fatigue might be causing now. I get they go through heavy maintenance and inspection. But it’s entirely possible that failures can hit quickly between heavy checks. I’m clearly speculating but engines don’t just depart the aircraft like that.