Boeing has recommended operators of the MD-11 “suspend flight operations while additional engineering analysis is performed.” This follows findings during the initial investigation of the crash of UPS flight 2976 on Tuesday, 4 November. Boeing says it is making its recommendation “in an abundance of caution.” Boeing assumed responsibility for the MD-11 program after its merger with McDonnell Douglas in 1997.
Which airlines are affected?
Only three airlines operate the MD-11: FedEx, UPS, and Western Global Airlines. All currently operational MD-11s are freighter aircraft. The last passenger MD-11 retired from service in 2014.
As of the time of recommendation by Boeing, 55 aircraft across the three airlines operated flights within the past seven days (including the accident aircraft). The list below includes only those aircraft that have operated a flight within the past seven days. All three airlines also have a small number of additional MD-11s that are inactive.
| Registration | Airline | Aircraft type | Serial number (MSN) | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N415JN | Western Global Airlines | McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | 48415 | 31 years |
| N781SN | Western Global Airlines | McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | 48781 | 27 years |
| N783SN | Western Global Airlines | McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | 48783 | 27 years |
| N804SN | Western Global Airlines | McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | 48804 | 25 years |
| N522FE | FedEx | McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | 48476 | 33 years |
| N523FE | FedEx | McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | 48479 | 32 years |
| N525FE | FedEx | McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | 48565 | 32 years |
| N528FE | FedEx | McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | 48623 | 29 years |
| N572FE | FedEx | McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | 48755 | 28 years |
| N573FE | FedEx | McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | 48769 | 29 years |
| N574FE | FedEx | McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | 48499 | 34 years |
| N583FE | FedEx | McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | 48421 | 35 years |
| N590FE | FedEx | McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | 48505 | 35 years |
| N591FE | FedEx | McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | 48527 | 33 years |
| N595FE | FedEx | McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | 48553 | 32 years |
| N596FE | FedEx | McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | 48554 | 32 years |
| N603FE | FedEx | McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | 48459 | 34 years |
| N605FE | FedEx | McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | 48514 | 33 years |
| N607FE | FedEx | McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | 48547 | 33 years |
| N609FE | FedEx | McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | 48549 | 32 years |
| N610FE | FedEx | McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | 48603 | 32 years |
| N613FE | FedEx | McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | 48749 | 29 years |
| N615FE | FedEx | McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | 48767 | 29 years |
| N617FE | FedEx | McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | 48748 | 30 years |
| N618FE | FedEx | McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | 48754 | 29 years |
| N620FE | FedEx | McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | 48791 | 26 years |
| N621FE | FedEx | McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | 48792 | 26 years |
| N624FE | FedEx | McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | 48443 | 35 years |
| N625FE | FedEx | McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | 48753 | 29 years |
| N631FE | FedEx | McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | 48454 | 34 years |
| N642FE | FedEx | McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | 48485 | 33 years |
| N643FE | FedEx | McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | 48486 | 33 years |
| N251UP | UPS | McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | 48744 | 30 years |
| N252UP | UPS | McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | 48768 | 29 years |
| N253UP | UPS | McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | 48439 | 32 years |
| N254UP | UPS | McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | 48406 | 32 years |
| N255UP | UPS | McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | 48404 | 33 years |
| N257UP | UPS | McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | 48451 | 33 years |
| N258UP | UPS | McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | 48416 | 34 years |
| N260UP | UPS | McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | 48418 | 33 years |
| N262UP | UPS | McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | 48806 | 24 years |
| N263UP | UPS | McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | 48782 | 27 years |
| N264UP | UPS | McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | 48800 | 25 years |
| N273UP | UPS | McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | 48574 | 31 years |
| N274UP | UPS | McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | 48575 | 31 years |
| N275UP | UPS | McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | 48774 | 28 years |
| N276UP | UPS | McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | 48579 | 29 years |
| N278UP | UPS | McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | 48577 | 30 years |
| N286UP | UPS | McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | 48453 | 34 years |
| N287UP | UPS | McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | 48539 | 31 years |
| N288UP | UPS | McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | 48540 | 28 years |
| N289UP | UPS | McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | 48455 | 33 years |
| N292UP | UPS | McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | 48566 | 32 years |
| N293UP | UPS | McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | 48473 | 34 years |
FAA issues Emergency Airworthiness directrive
The Federal Aviation Administration issued an Emergency Airworthiness Directive on 8 November requiring aircraft inspections for MD-11s and any applicable corrective actions before further flight.
