FedEx Cancels December MD-11 Flights for Inspection Checks

‍MEMPHIS — FedEx (FX) has scrubbed all MD-11 flying for December as the FAA’s post-crash inspection order continues to sideline the trijet fleet. The move signals that FedEx does not expect any of its 28 MD-11s to return to service before year-end, squeezing cargo capacity during the holiday peak.

The FAA grounded all MD-11s after investigators found fatigue cracks in the left-wing engine mount of the UPS aircraft that crashed in Louisville. With the NTSB confirming the issue on November 20, regulators have taken an unusually strict approach—reportedly declining ferry permits and requiring aircraft to remain parked until full inspections are completed.

FedEx pilots have been told their December pay is protected, though January compensation remains unclear. The union representing the 500 MD-11-qualified pilots has pushed back against management’s plan to place crews on reserve next month, arguing the status is inappropriate without an active schedule.

UPS faces similar delays. FreightWaves reports that inspections could take “several months,” extending into 2026, with Boeing evaluating whether full engine-and-pylon removals will be required. All 277 UPS MD-11 pilots are pay-protected.

Western Global Airlines has already furloughed about 75 pilots amid the prolonged grounding. Both FedEx and UPS are contracting partner carriers to fill network gaps while they wait for Boeing and the FAA to determine when — or if — the MD-11 fleet can safely return to the skies.