Rep. Morgan McGarvey, D-Ky., called on the FAA last week to permanently ground the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 following the Nov. 4, 2025, accident involving UPS Flight 2976 in Louisville, Kentucky.
In an April 24 letter to FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford, McGarvey urged the agency to issue an emergency airworthiness directive removing the remaining MD-11s from service. The accident occurred shortly after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport and killed three crewmembers and 11 people on the ground. The agency has said the aircraft’s left engine and pylon separated from the wing shortly after rotation.
“Families have lost loved ones, communities have suffered overwhelming sadness, and the nation has witnessed yet another catastrophic disaster involving an aircraft with a long-documented history of mechanical problems,” McGarvey wrote in the letter. “We have a collective responsibility to ensure that no additional lives are put at risk by an aircraft whose design and operational history have repeatedly demonstrated an unacceptable level of danger.”
The NTSB released a January investigative update to its investigation into the MD-11 accident, saying the left pylon aft mount spherical bearing fractured after fatigue cracking developed around a design groove. According to the NTSB, about 75% of the fracture surface showed fatigue damage, with the remainder consistent with overstress failure.
The agency has scheduled a two-day investigative hearing on the accident for May 19-20 at its headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Are any MD-11’s currently flying?
What an ill informed political move. He knows quite well that UPS will never fly them again except for possibly to the bone yards to scrap. However, they are still part of FedEx’s fleet plan once a proper inspection program is developed. And it’s suspicious that he sends this letter after FedEx announces they are planning a return to service (FedEx prepares to return the MD-11 to service as soon as next month)
Western Global’s majority of their fleet are MD-11s. Should they financially survive grounding, their fleet plan is squarely centered on the MD11F.
Bottom lines — yes the airplane can be a handful in certain flight regimes. So can the Lear 20/30 series, the MU-2 and airplanes long parked like the Convair 880. That said, this accident had nothing to do with its characteristics. It all to do with an inadequate heavy check inspection program. Whether it was a failure of the contract maintenance provider, or a need for life limiting parts of the structure, that has yet to be seen.
The type has been flown for 36 years, with few, but serious hull losses. That said, I would say the overall record is comparable with the majority of the worldwide wide body fleet. And this shows why politicians should stick to their lane and let the professionals work the problem
See the link in Scott’s response.
As a retired FedEx pilot with over 10 years flying the MD-11 I can say that the airplane is demanding of those who don’t operate the airplane to high standards. Its suspicious this letter comes on the heals of FedEx announcing their return to service. I recently spoke with a senior mechanic at FedEx and he said they are developing an inspection/repair kit for the pylons. Boeing/McD had sent a letter out to MD-11 operators to inspect this attachment points over a dozen years ago. A letter is advisory only not mandentory compliance. UPS tossed their letter in the trash FedEx performed the inspection.
Its easy to understand the differences in the two companies philosophies.
UPS is a trucking company with airplanes
FedEx is an airline with trucks
Typical Democratic response…10 pounds of cure for an ounce of prevention. Modify/enhance/expand the maintenance procedures to better ensure the aircraft is safe.
Nice analogy of UPS and FedEx.
Based on everything written, this MD11 crash was due to highly insufficient maintenance!!! Grounding a whole fleet of aircraft based on one with highly insufficient maintenance is criminal! Who ever made this suggestion is clueless about aircraft and the maintenance needed for those aircraft to stay airworthy!!! Shame, shame, shame!!! Send this person or group of people to the dog house! With their ridiculous assumptions; they should be banned from commenting on aircraft!!! A law maker? Can not be! No law maker is that out to lunch!!! This is like the European Union trying to ground the DC3; just really stupid. The FAA brought some sense to the Europeans and needs to brief this lawmaker so we do not have to isolate this fool!!!