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ATLANTA — United Parcel Service (5X) has confirmed it has fully retired its McDonnell Douglas MD-11 fleet, formally closing the chapter on an aircraft type that had been a mainstay of the carrier’s long-haul cargo operations for decades.
The announcement was made in 5X’s fourth-quarter earnings and 2026 guidance report, released Tuesday, in which the company said it had “accelerated its fleet modernization and completed the retirement of its MD-11 fleet.”
The move follows heightened scrutiny of the tri-jet after a fatal UPS MD-11 crash in Louisville on November 4, 2025, when the aircraft suffered a catastrophic failure shortly after departure. The left engine separated from the wing, and 15 people were killed. The aircraft involved was 34 years old.
While the official cause of the crash has not yet been determined, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has reported cracks and structural failure in the engine mount area where the engine attaches to the wing.
More recently, the NTSB said Boeing had been aware of a flaw in one of the relevant components years before the accident but had previously concluded it did not render the aircraft unsafe to fly.
In the immediate aftermath of the crash, UPS grounded its entire MD-11 fleet at Boeing’s recommendation, citing an abundance-of-caution approach. FedEx (FX) subsequently grounded its own MD-11s as well, and those aircraft remain out of service.
From a financial standpoint, UPS disclosed that it recorded a US$137 million loss in the final quarter of 2025 related to the MD-11 retirement. That charge accounted for US$238 million in total special charges booked during the quarter.
The retirement is part of 5X’s broader transition toward a newer, more fuel-efficient wide-body fleet, centered on aircraft such as the Boeing 767-300F and 777F, as the carrier balances safety and long-term operating costs.
Featured image: Chris Goulet/Airways
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