MD-11 Grounding After Crash May Linger for UPS, FedEx
Executive of Florida-Based Cargo Carrier Western Global Airlines Writes That Grounding of Planes to Last for 'Undeterminable Period'
Key Takeaways:
- The FAA’s grounding of MD-11 cargo jets after a Nov. 4 crash in Louisville has halted operations for carriers like UPS and FedEx and triggered pilot furloughs at Western Global Airlines.
- A preliminary report found fatigue cracks in multiple engine-mount sections, prompting plans for “highly invasive” inspections and repairs across fleets that rely heavily on the MD-11.
- Boeing is developing inspection and corrective procedures for FAA approval, leaving the aircraft sidelined for an undetermined period and disrupting UPS, FedEx and other operators.
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The grounding of the workhorse freighter plane involved in a recent deadly crash in Kentucky may drag on for an “undeterminable period,” creating havoc for UPS Inc., FedEx Corp. and a small Florida-based cargo carrier.
McDonnell Douglas MD-11 planes will be subject to “highly invasive” inspections as well as repairs and part replacements, according to an internal memo by Tom Romnios, vice president of human resources at Western Global Airlines. He also wrote that the cargo carrier was furloughing pilots effective Nov. 22.
The MD-11 makes up most of Western Global’s 19 aircraft fleet, with the other model being four Boeing Co. 747 freighters.
MORE: UPS and FedEx Strain as MD-11 Jets Stay Grounded
“As you can imagine, this is devastating to WGA,” the memo says. “While none of this situation was caused by the company, we are now forced to make very difficult decisions.”
The memo was posted on LinkedIn by Nik Fialka, an airline pilot and podcaster. The date was blacked out, and neither WGA nor Romnios immediately responded to requests for comment. The veracity of the memo was confirmed by people familiar with the matter.
An MD-11F operated by UPS lost its left engine during takeoff from the cargo carrier’s main hub in Louisville, Ky., on Nov. 4 and didn’t climb higher than 30 feet before crashing. Fourteen people, including the crew and people on the ground, were killed.
A Բreleased last week showed fatigue cracks in several sections that secured the engine to the wing.
Boeing took over McDonnell Douglas in 1997 and is coordinating with the Federal Aviation Administration on inspection procedures for the MD-11 so that it can return to service.
“Our team is working diligently to provide instructions and technical support to operators so they can meet the requirements of the FAA Airworthiness Directive,” Boeing said in a statement.
The FAA hasn’t provided inspection procedures yet, a UPS spokesperson said. The regulator said in a statement that Boeing will develop the procedures and any necessary corrective actions, which the FAA must then approve. It referred additional questions on the status of that work to Boeing.
After the accident, the FAA temporarily grounded all MD-11 and MD-11F cargo jets, pending inspections and corrective measures. That directive has since been expanded to other aircraft with similar engine-pylon designs.
UPS ranks No. 1on theTransport Topics Top 100 list of thelargest for-hire carriersin North AmericaԻNo. 5on the TT Top 100 list of thelargest logistics companies. It also ranks No. 4 on theTT Top 50 global freight companies list.
FedEx ranks No. 2on the for-hire TT100, No. 3 on the global freight TT50ԻNo. 43on the logistics TT100.
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