MEMPHIS, TN — A stark divide has emerged between the world’s two largest logistics giants as they navigate the future of the iconic McDonnell Douglas MD-11 freighter. While FedEx Express is doubling down on the trijet with a target return-to-service date of May 31, 2026, United Parcel Service (UPS) has officially closed the book on the aircraft’s thirty-year tenure following a devastating accident that sent shockwaves through the industry.
The divergent strategies come exactly three months after the tragic crash of UPS Flight 2976. On November 4, 2025, the MD-11 freighter, registered as N259UP, suffered a catastrophic separation of its number-one (left) engine and pylon during its takeoff roll at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport. The aircraft climbed only 30 feet before impacting an industrial area, resulting in the loss of all three crew members and 12 people on the ground.
In the wake of the disaster, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an Emergency Airworthiness Directive that grounded the global MD-11 fleet for immediate inspections. For UPS, the decision to walk away was final…