US cargo giant FedEx plans to return its MD-11 aircraft to active service by the end of May 2026, at a time when its main competitor UPS has decided to permanently withdraw the type from its fleet. The contrasting decisions come in the aftermath of a fatal UPS MD-11 crash in November 2025, which intensified regulatory and industry scrutiny of the aircraft.
FedEx confirmed it is working closely with Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration on inspections and required maintenance actions aimed at safely returning the grounded MD-11 freighters to service. The company said it is targeting May 31, 2026, for the resumption of operations, although it has not disclosed how many aircraft will be involved in the initial restart.
FedEx grounded its MD-11 fleet following the fatal accident involving a UPS-operated aircraft, which occurred shortly after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport. The crash claimed the lives of all three crew members on board as well as 12 people on the ground, triggering renewed debate over the long-term viability of the aging tri-jet in US cargo operations.
Just one day before FedEx’s announcement, UPS confirmed during its fourth-quarter 2025 earnings call that it had officially retired its entire MD-11 fleet, bringing to an end more than two decades of service with the type. The decision effectively removes the MD-11 from UPS operations and leaves FedEx as one of the last major US carriers still relying on the aircraft.
The investigation into the accident is being led by the National Transportation Safety Board, which earlier this month revealed that investigators had identified a cracked structural component on the UPS aircraft involved in the crash. According to the agency, Boeing had flagged the part more than a decade ago. Officials have not yet determined whether the issue contributed to the accident, and the investigation remains ongoing.
