In brief
UPS has announced that its grounded McDonnell Douglas MD-11 fleet will likely remain out of service for several months due to extensive inspections and potential repairs following a tragic Nov. 4 crash in Louisville, Kentucky, that resulted in 14 fatalities. UPS will implement contingency plans to ensure customer deliveries during the holiday rush while prioritizing aircraft safety.
A fleet of planes that UPS grounded after a deadly crash isn’t expected to be back in service during the peak holiday season due to inspections and possible repairs, the company said Wednesday in an internal memo.
The airline expects it will be several months before its McDonnell Douglas MD-11 fleet returns to service as it works to meet Federal Aviation Administration guidelines, as stated in the memo from UPS Airlines president Bill Moore to employees. The process was initially estimated to take weeks but may now take several months.
A fatal MD-11 plane crash on Nov. 4 in Louisville, Kentucky, led to the tragic death of 14 people and injured at least 23 when the left engine detached during takeoff. Cargo carriers grounded their McDonnell Douglas MD-11 fleets shortly after, ahead of a directive from the FAA.
“Regarding the MD-11 fleet, Boeing’s ongoing evaluation shows that inspections and potential repairs will be more extensive than initially expected,” Moore wrote in the memo.
A UPS spokesperson indicated that the company would rely on contingency plans to deliver for customers throughout the peak season, stating that it “will take the time needed to ensure that every aircraft is safe.”
The 109 remaining MD-11 airliners, averaging more than 30 years old, are exclusively used for cargo transport by package delivery companies. They account for about 9% of the UPS airline fleet and 4% of the FedEx fleet.
Boeing, which has been responsible for the manufacturing of MD-11s since its merger with McDonnell Douglas in 1997, announced that it is diligently working to provide technical support to operators for compliance with the FAA’s requirements.
The FAA stated that Boeing will develop the necessary procedures for inspections and corrective actions, pending their approval.
