FAA Expands Grounding to MD-10 and DC-10 Aircraft After Deadly UPS MD-11 Crash

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has widened its emergency grounding order to include the McDonnell Douglas MD-10 and DC-10 aircraft on Nov. 15, following the fatal UPS MD-11 cargo jet crash in Louisville, Kentucky, earlier this month. The expanded directive builds on the FAA’s earlier action that grounded all MD-11s after investigators discovered the jet’s left engine and pylon detached during takeoff, triggering the catastrophic accident that killed 14 people.

The tragedy occurred on November 4, 2025, when a UPS MD-11 cargo aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport. According to preliminary findings, the left-hand engine and pylon assembly separated from the wing, causing a total loss of control and a post-impact fire. The crash claimed the lives of three crew members and 11 people on the ground, making it one of the deadliest cargo plane accidents in recent U.S. aviation history.

FAA’s Emergency Directives

In response, the FAA issued an initial grounding order on November 8, halting all operations of MD-11 and MD-11F aircraft pending comprehensive inspections. On November 15–16, the agency expanded the directive to include MD-10 and DC-10 models, citing shared structural design features with the MD-11 that could pose similar safety risks. The FAA bypassed the standard 30-day public comment period to impose an immediate flight ban, requiring operators to complete mandatory inspections and repairs before returning affected aircraft to service.

The McDonnell Douglas MD-10 is an upgraded version of the DC-10 widebody tri-jet, retrofitted with modern avionics and flight deck systems similar to those found in the MD-11. The MD-10 conversion removes the need for a flight engineer by integrating a two-person “glass cockpit,” improving efficiency and reducing operating costs. While no longer produced, the MD-10 remains in limited service with cargo carriers such as FedEx, primarily used for freight operations rather than passenger transport.

Industry Impact

Cargo carriers including UPS and FedEx voluntarily grounded their MD-11 fleets prior to the FAA’s expanded order, emphasizing safety and precaution as top priorities. The updated directive also affects a limited number of operators still flying MD-10s and DC-10s, such as aerial firefighting companies and military KC-10 refueling units. While most DC-10s have been retired from commercial service, about eight aircraft remain operational worldwide, primarily used for freight transport or specialized missions.

Ongoing Investigation

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) continues to investigate the UPS MD-11 crash to determine the root cause of the engine separation. The FAA said the “unsafe condition is likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design,” justifying the broad grounding. Operators must now carry out detailed inspections and apply any corrective measures before being cleared to resume operations.

The FAA’s sweeping directive grounding the MD-11, MD-10, and DC-10 fleets underscores mounting safety concerns across legacy McDonnell Douglas aircraft. The structural failure that brought down the UPS jet has raised fears that similar vulnerabilities could affect related designs. Until exhaustive inspections and safety validations are completed, these once-dominant widebody freighters will remain on the ground — marking a significant disruption for the global cargo and aviation industry and reinforcing the need for continued vigilance in maintaining older aircraft types.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, FAA.gov