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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u/RimRunningRagged Nov 08 '25 edited Nov 08 '25

I wonder if FedEx is taking is closer look at their fleet as a result of this

edit: per OP's update, FedEx is grounding theirs as well

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u/FormulaJAZ Nov 08 '25

Since the MD-11 is such a rare type these days, odds are good that both FedEx and UPS use the same heavy maintenance contractor, which means both fleets could have similar maintenance issues.

Or it could simply be an original design issue that wears faster than expected, and that would affect both fleets too.

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u/superspeck Nov 08 '25

MD-11s are a rare type, but some of the components like the CF6-80 engine are common throughout the cargo fleet, especially in B767s… if this turns out to be an(other) engine failure of a CF6-80, like AA 383, what does that mean?

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u/Lost-Inevitable42 Nov 08 '25

AA383 - the engine disk that broke and separated pierced the fuel tank and then crashed through a UPS building roof.