LOUISVILLE, Ky. — In a move prioritizing safety after a tragic accident, UPS and FedEx have announced they are grounding their fleets of McDonnell Douglas MD-11 cargo planes following a deadly crash at the UPS Worldport hub in Louisville. The decision comes just days after the Tuesday incident that claimed 14 lives, including the three pilots aboard the aircraft bound for Honolulu.
The crash, which occurred on November 4, 2025, involved a UPS MD-11 built in 1991 that erupted into a fireball shortly after attempting takeoff. According to the National Transportation Safety Board, the plane was nearly airborne when a bell sounded in the cockpit, signaling potential trouble. NTSB member Todd Inman described the sequence during a news conference, noting that the alarm rang for about 25 seconds as the pilots struggled to control the aircraft, which had its left wing ablaze and an engine detached.
“The cockpit voice recorder captured the bell, which sounded about 37 seconds after the crew called for takeoff thrust,” Inman said. He added that investigators have not yet determined the exact cause of the bell, though they confirmed the left wing was burning and the engine on that side had separated. The NTSB emphasized that a full transcript of the cockpit recording would not be released for months as part of the ongoing investigation.
Jeff Guzzetti, a former federal crash investigator, offered insight into the possible implications of the alarm. “It occurred at a point in the takeoff where they were likely past their decision speed to abort the takeoff,” Guzzetti told The Associated Press. “They were likely past their critical decision speed to remain on the runway and stop safely. … They’ll need to thoroughly investigate the options the crew may or may not have had.”
Dramatic video footage from phones, cars, and security cameras captured the horrifying moment the plane crashed into nearby businesses, exploding in a massive fireball. The incident has drawn widespread attention, with vigils held in Louisville to honor the victims, including Capt. Dana Diamond, one of the pilots. Photos from the scene show placards and crosses at the Great Lawn during a gathering on Friday, November 7, 2025.
UPS, in a statement released late Friday, explained the grounding decision. “We made this decision proactively at the recommendation of the aircraft manufacturer,” the statement read. “Nothing is more important to us than the safety of our employees and the communities we serve.” FedEx echoed this sentiment in an email, stating it would ground its MD-11s while conducting “a thorough safety review based on the recommendation of the manufacturer.”
Boeing, which acquired McDonnell Douglas in a 1997 merger, recommended the action but did not immediately provide details on the reasoning when contacted by The Associated Press. The MD-11 model, phased out of production by Boeing in 1998 with final deliveries in 2000, represents about 9% of UPS's airline fleet and 4% of FedEx's, according to the companies.
Western Global Airlines, the only other U.S. cargo carrier operating MD-11s, has 16 in its fleet, though 12 are already in storage, per aviation analytics firm Cirium. The airline did not respond to requests for comment outside business hours early Saturday.
The crashed UPS plane had recently undergone maintenance in San Antonio, where it was grounded for over a month until mid-October, flight records indicate. Details on the specific work performed remain unclear. The Louisville hub, known as UPS Worldport, is the company's largest facility, employing more than 20,000 people in the region. It handles 300 flights daily and sorts over 400,000 packages per hour, spokesperson Jim Mayer said. Operations at the hub resumed with the Next Day Air service on Wednesday night following the crash.
In the wake of the accident, questions have arisen about the aging MD-11 fleet. The model, introduced in the early 1990s, has been involved in previous incidents, though experts caution against drawing direct connections without full investigation results. Guzzetti's comments highlight the challenges pilots face during critical takeoff phases, where split-second decisions can determine outcomes.
Local residents and workers at the hub expressed shock and grief. At the vigil on the Great Lawn, mourners gathered to remember the 14 victims, with crosses and placards bearing names like Capt. Dana Diamond. The crash site photos, provided by the NTSB, show extensive wreckage scattered across the area near the runway on Thursday, November 6, 2025.
The NTSB's investigation is expected to delve into multiple factors, including the maintenance history, the alarm's significance, and the fire's origin. Inman noted that the bell could indicate various issues, but the visible engine detachment and wing fire suggest a mechanical failure. “There are different types of alarms with varying meanings,” he said, underscoring the complexity of pinpointing the cause.
Beyond the immediate response, the grounding could impact cargo operations for both UPS and FedEx, potentially causing delays in shipments during a busy season. Industry analysts point out that while MD-11s form a small percentage of the fleets, their role in long-haul routes, like the Honolulu flight, is significant. UPS and FedEx have not specified how long the grounding will last, but both companies stressed it was a precautionary measure.
As the investigation progresses, broader implications for aviation safety may emerge, particularly regarding older aircraft models still in service. Boeing's phase-out of the MD-11 over two decades ago reflects evolving industry standards, yet cargo operators have continued using them for their capacity and range. Officials from the NTSB have indicated that a preliminary report could be available in weeks, but a final determination might take up to a year or more.
In Louisville, the community continues to mourn, with the crash serving as a stark reminder of the risks inherent in aviation. As UPS and FedEx review their fleets, the focus remains on preventing future tragedies, with safety at the forefront of their statements.