Real World Aviation News

UPS is grounding its MD-11(F) fleet with immediate effect at the recommendation of the aircraft manufacturer.

There are currently 26 MD-11s in the UPS fleet of 294 total aircraft. UPS (5X/UPS) Fleet, Routes & Reviews | Flightradar24

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That’s fair enough, but I doubt it’d happen again before they retire it, so rare for this stuff to happen.

So is FedEx. I haven’t found anything about Western Global.
https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/ups-grounds-its-md-11-fleet-after-louisville-crash-2025-11-08/

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Yes of course it is, it’s a new route? So yes it’s a new route for their 787s! You don’t need to reply to every post! If you want give it a like! No need to have 1 or 2 word answers for everything!

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Sorry…

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No its fine! Just no need to clog threads up with 1 word posts!

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Yep, reckon Western will follow soon.

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if this becomes the end of the MD-11 in service I will be sad. Really wanted to get down to Stansted to see the FedEx one on the rare occasions it turns up so fingers crossed it isn’t.

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Wait… this is like that amarican flight that lost its engine on take off and crashing into a hanger…

Yes, all MD-11s are currently grounded.

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OH… will the ever fly Agian?

No one knows at the moment. Important to note that they are only grounded in the US and in nations that follow FAA guidelines.

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I don’t believe anyone else operates them though bar those 3 US airlines but I could be wrong. Real pity though.

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Yeah but if they are all grounded then ones in different countries can’t get back to the USA? Like if an ups one is stuck in Canada it can’t get back to America?

I’d imagine yes, no crossing into US or FAA respecting airspace. They’re stuck on the ground wherever they are unless it’s somewhere that doesn’t follow FAA. But also the Airline itself is respecting the grounding (did so on their own first in-fact), so even if they were in, say, China or somewhere, probably not taking off right now.
As far as being the end of MD11s, in my opinion I think so. It’s just such an old aircraft at 25-30+ years and already had a similar incident, so this is a huge blow.
On that and, it’s a small portion of UPS and FedEx fleets, so even more reason to retire them. But for poor old Western Global, it was the backbone of their fleet, so I could see WGA going under from this, sadly.
Such an Ironic coincidence of timing for the devs to have released the MD11s and WGA at this time.

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Yeah I was so excited for the Md-11 then this happened it’s just… not great but western? Yeah they might have to close, if all they’re fleet is MD-11s then we’ll they won’t make it…

No their whole fleet isn’t MD11s, got some 747-400s i believe

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Spotted!! Brand New Korean Airbus A321neo MSN 12952 to be registered HL8713 seen at Toulouse still wearing a French test registration.

Photo: Euro Spot

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New Korean livery? When did they bring it out? I throught they still had the Pepsi logo as the tail :joy: