By Matt Underwood FAA bars MD-11 flights after a fiery UPS jet crash – that’s the headline, and frankly, it’s understandable. The news is centered around an emergency airworthiness directive issued by the Federal Aviation Administration, or FAA, following a terrifying incident. We’re talking about a UPS MD-11 cargo jet that experienced a catastrophic engine failure during takeoff in Louisville. The left engine, along with its pylon (the structure connecting it to the wing), completely detached.
The FAA’s response was swift and decisive. They grounded the entire fleet of MD-11s, a decision driven by safety concerns and a commitment to understanding what exactly went wrong. The regulator stated the detachment posed a risk to the “continued safe flight and landing,” and that’s precisely the kind of thing that demands immediate action. Considering the holiday season is coming up, this situation is not good for deliveries. This is probably the end for this model. It’s a sad end for all the people affected by this accident.
The grounding affects all MD-11s, which includes the fleets of UPS, FedEx, and Western Global Airlines. As far as passenger service goes, the last MD-11 passenger flight was way back in 2014. These planes are old, the ones in question from the early 90s, used only for cargo. They’re not the most fuel-efficient aircraft, but they typically only fly a couple of times a day between major hubs, making them economically viable – until now. Now, operators like UPS and FedEx are facing order full inspections.
The details are still emerging, but the investigation is underway to determine the cause of the engine failure. We should expect a summary of the findings and immediate corrective actions, with a more comprehensive report to follow in the coming years. Historically, incidents like this have resulted in rigorous investigations, leading to grounding orders and modifications to prevent recurrence. A good example of this is when the Boeing 737 Max was grounded after the MCAS crashes. Boeing was blamed at the time, but the MD-11 has been flying for a long time.
It’s easy to see why the FAA would take such a precaution. The goal is to figure out if there’s a systemic issue affecting the entire fleet, rather than something isolated to a single aircraft. With an aircraft of this age, that’s not unreasonable. Plane models are pretty standardized in construction, so a design flaw will be present in a lot more than one plane of that model. Think about it: aviation is all about safety, and a grounding order is a clear sign that safety is paramount.
The MD-11, even though it’s been a workhorse for cargo operations, has a history. While there have been a number of DC-10 hull losses, the only major accident I could find attributed to an engine falling off was American 191 at O’Hare in 1979 caused by improper maintenance procedures on the engine. If there’s an issue with the MD-11, operators like UPS and FedEx are going to have to make tough decisions.
The reality is that these planes are getting old. Maintaining them is becoming more expensive because there are fewer companies making parts for them. The fleets are small, with about 60 MD-11s total in operation. When the planes get grounded, they have to figure out if the issue is in the design and the way that the planes age/decay. UPS and FedEx grounded them after they were asked to by Boeing. Boeing’s role here is crucial, as they’ll likely be involved in advising on inspections and potential modifications.
In the end, this grounding is about a lot more than just one incident. It’s a reflection of the aviation industry’s dedication to safety and its commitment to learning from every event, no matter how rare or catastrophic. It’s about protecting the pilots, crews, and the public, and ensuring that air travel remains one of the safest forms of transportation.