FedEx and UPS announced on Friday that they are temporarily grounding McDonnell Douglas (MD-11) cargo planes following a tragic crash earlier this week in Louisville, Kentucky, that resulted in at least 12 fatalities.
According to UPS, “The MD-11 makes up about 9 percent of our airline’s fleet.” The grounding took effect immediately, prompted by the recommendation from the aircraft’s manufacturer. They emphasized, “The safety of our employees and the communities we serve is our top priority.”
FedEx also confirmed to The Hill that it is grounding the MD-11 as they conduct a comprehensive safety review aligned with the manufacturer’s suggestions. “We’re implementing contingency plans within our airspace network to limit disruptions,” the company noted, underscoring their commitment to high safety standards and customer service.
Boeing, the manufacturer of the MD-11, stated: “We are advising both FedEx and UPS to take this precautionary step, and we will continue to work closely with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regarding this issue.” A Boeing representative mentioned that their Safety Review Board has assessed the current data and determined that more technical evaluation is needed. “We recommend a temporary suspension of fleet operations to finalize our analysis and necessary corrective steps,” they added.
The incident at the UPS Worldport, located at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, involved a plane catching fire in its left wing shortly after takeoff. Reports indicate that an engine detached just before the aircraft crashed and exploded, resulting in the loss of more than a dozen lives, including that of a child. An investigation is currently underway.
This grounding is likely to lead to shipping delays, but some experts believe the effects will diminish before the busy holiday season kicks in. Tom Goldsby, a professor of supply chain management at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, commented, “We understand the situation and are ready to receive shipments as they arrive. There’s a general lack of understanding about supply chains among people and companies.”
He reassured, “We don’t anticipate a catastrophic impact on our logistics operations.”
