MD-11 Cargo Fleet Gets Green Light to Resume Operations After FAA Safety Review

Key Details The FAA has lifted its flight ban on MD-11 freighter aircraft, allowing FedEx to return its fleet to commercial service. FedEx operated two MD-11s on Sunday - one flying Memphis to Los Angeles and another to Miami - marking the first commercial flights since early November. Why It Matters The grounding followed a fatal UPS cargo jet crash in Kentucky, where investigators found fatigue cracks in engine pylons. Boeing and FedEx jointly developed a new bearing component to fix the structural flaw, and the FAA approved their safety protocol after extensive review. Fleet Plans FedEx will gradually reactivate its 29 MD-11 aircraft as they cycle through maintenance facilities for bearing replacement and pilot refresher training. The carrier plans to operate these aging jets until 2032 to meet rising cargo demand, while UPS chose to retire its MD-11 fleet entirely. Next Steps FedEx will remove pylons from aircraft parked worldwide and ship them to maintenance hubs in Memphis and Indianapolis for the critical bearing replacement work.