"UPS retires fleet of MD-11 aircraft involved in deadly Kentucky crash" by @AssociatedPress - Already planned to be phased out, UPS announced its 26 MD-11 planes will not return to service following an extended FAA-ordered grounding after the UPS 2976 crash of Nov 4. UPS has orders for 18 new 767Fs to replace them. The two cargo airlines with grounded MD-11s remaining are FedEx (28) and Western Global (15). https://apnews.com/article/ups-kentucky-louisville-crash-md11-boeing-9832be76e1a025ba2b89582778ee45db #UPS2976 #MD11grounding #aviation #business #cargo #avgeek
UPS retires its McDonnell Douglas MD-11 cargo planes after Louisville crash

UPS says it has retired its fleet of McDonnell Douglas MD-11 cargo planes just months after one crashed in Louisville, killing 15 people. CEO Carol Tome said during a fourth-quarter earnings call Tuesday that the company decided to accelerate its plans while all MD-11s remain grounded by the Federal Aviation Administration. The plane’s three-person crew and 12 others on the ground were killed after the plane's left engine fell off. The company is rebuilding its fleet with 18 new Boeing 767s in the next 15 months. The company also announced plans to cut up to 30,000 jobs this year as it reduces its shipments for Amazon.

AP News
“In UPS crash, NTSB probing MD-11 engine mount issue first identified by Boeing in 2011” https://theaircurrent.com/feed/dispatches/ups-boeing-md-11-ntsb-update-engine-mount/ #Aviation #UPS2976
"Fleet of UPS planes grounded after deadly crash expected to miss peak delivery season" by @AssociatedPress - MD-11s are no longer expected to return to service during the holiday cargo rush. FAA & Boeing have yet to issue findings or required inspections. So UPS is indefinitely grounding its MD-11s, 9% of its fleet. UPS contingency plans for the holidays have included hiring other cargo airlines for some loads. https://apnews.com/article/ups-md11-planes-crash-louisville-13dbb6ec286ddc966c6bd1c9f3b3627c #UPS2976 #MD11grounding #aviation #business #cargo #avgeek
UPS grounds fleet of MD-11 planes indefinitely after deadly crash

UPS Airlines has grounded its MD-11 planes indefinitely for inspections and possible repairs after a deadly crash earlier this month. An internal memo from UPS Airlines president Bill Moore on Wednesday stated that the fleet will be grounded as they work to meet Federal Aviation Administration guidelines. The process was expected to take weeks but may now take several months. An MD-11 plane crashed Nov. 4 in Louisville, Kentucky, killing 14 people. UPS intends to rely on contingency plans to deliver for customers throughout the peak season. Boeing took over as the manufacturer of MD-11s in 1997 and is working to help operators meet FAA requirements.

AP News
#ScottManley - Lost Engine Didn't Fall Down, But Flew Up Over Doomed UPS Aircraft #UPS2976 - https://www.youtube.com/shorts/O6kXOOgQDac
Lost Engine Didn't Fall Down, But Flew Up Over Doomed UPS Aircraft #UPS2976

YouTube

Les enquêteurs américains viennent de diffuser les premiers détails précis de l'accident du MD-11 d'UPS à Louisville. C'est La fixation du pylône du réacteur avec l'aile de l'avion qui a cédé. #UPS2976 #Crash #MD11
#UPS

https://www.aerobuzz.fr/transport-aerien/la-rupture-de-la-fixation-entre-le-pylone-du-reacteur-et-laile-a-lorigine-du-crash-du-md-11-dups/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=jetpack_social

La rupture de la fixation entre le pylône du réacteur et l'aile à l'origine du crash du MD-11 d'UPS - Aerobuzz

Le NTSB vient de diffuser son rapport préliminaire relatif à l’accident du MD-11F d’UPS (vol UPS2976) à Louisville le 4 novembre 2025. Le système de fixation du pylône du réacteur gauche est en cours d’analyse et a commencé à livrer de précieuses informations sur le scénario de l’accident de l’avion-cargo. Le rapport préliminaire s’accompagne d’une

Aerobuzz

@Lydie Definitely a lot more fire. Yes, the initiating event is very similar, but the subsequent events were very different. What doomed AA191 was the slat asymmetry caused by hydraulic failures, coupled with the standard engine-out climb speed. At a higher speed, they might have been able to return for an emergency landing.

Metal airframes, if properly maintained, have an almost indefinite lifespan. The industry knows how to handle metal fatigue since the Comet. In this case it seems the speed at which fatigue cracks advanced was underestimated. Whether or not maintenance procedures had anything to do with it, remains to be seen.

With shorter inspection intervals the FAA may allow return to service eventually, but it will be weeks, if not months. So I will not be surprised if most or all operators will choose to permanently retire the type.

#ups2976 #ntsb #aviationaccident #MD11 #DC10

For whatever reason, I'm fascinated by air disasters, so I've been paying close attention to the report on #ups2976.

The video explains it very clearly. On a MD11, engines hang on the wing by (basically) 2 bolts. The back one gave way and the engine pivoted up and off.

What I don't understand is why the engines are only mounted with two points? That... uh... feels like not enough redundancy.

I'd love to know the engineering reason why 2 was enough.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FfNIZFRcBM

UPS Crash Preliminary Report | Pilot Reacts to UPS Crash Report

YouTube

The #NTSB preliminary report about the #UPS2976 accident 2 weeks ago was released today.

Here is blancolorio's video on it.
https://youtu.be/UpUkwzVUs5Y

UPS #2976 NTSB Preliminary Report! 20 Nov 2025

YouTube
While leaving conclusions to NTSB, the UPS 2976 preliminary report gives us an idea what comes next. NTSB will continue to look for the cause of the fatigue cracks in the pylon. Now MD-11 & DC-10 operators UPS, FedEx, Western Global, USAF, Ten Tanker, Omega and Orbis have better info what needs inspection. The economics of pulling 2 engines off each aircraft for pylon inspection may mean not all operators will return their planes to service. #UPS2976 #aviation #business #cargo #avgeek
NTSB released preliminary report "UPS Flight 2976 Crash During Takeoff" only 2 weeks after the accident. (Requirement is 30 days.) Preliminary report is just a status of what is known so far, no conclusions or recommendations. The left engine pylon broke when the engine departed. Fatigue cracks were found in addition to the overstress failure. The pylon mount was last inspected in 2021 and was not due for another yet. https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA26MA024.aspx #UPS2976 #aviation #business #cargo #avgeek