UPS retires its MD-11 fleet after deadly Louisville crash

The company recorded a non-cash, after-tax charge tied to the accelerated retirement of the three-engine aircraft.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 2:15am

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UPS has officially retired its remaining McDonnell Douglas MD-11 freighters, formally ending operations with the three-engine aircraft following a deadly November accident and the subsequent grounding of the fleet. The decision was disclosed in the company's fourth-quarter 2025 earnings release.

Why it matters

The MD-11 made up a minority portion of UPS' widebody fleet and was primarily used on long-haul international cargo routes. UPS maintained the second-largest MD-11 fleet in the world, with 31 aircraft in service before the accident. The retirement of the MD-11 fleet marks the end of an era for the three-engine aircraft.

The details

UPS grounded its MD-11 fleet in November after an accident at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport that killed the aircraft's three pilots and 12 people on the ground. At the time, the company said the grounding the aircraft was out of an abundance of caution while the crash was investigated. The National Transportation Safety Board is continuing to investigate the accident.

  • UPS grounded its MD-11 fleet in November 2025 after the deadly accident.
  • UPS recorded a non-cash, after-tax charge tied to the accelerated retirement of the MD-11 aircraft in its Q4 2025 earnings release.

The players

UPS

United Parcel Service, a major American package delivery and supply chain management company.

McDonnell Douglas MD-11

A three-engine wide-body airliner developed by McDonnell Douglas, a major American aerospace manufacturer.

National Transportation Safety Board

An independent U.S. government investigative agency responsible for civil transportation accident investigation.

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What’s next

The National Transportation Safety Board is continuing to investigate the November 2025 accident at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport that led to the grounding and eventual retirement of UPS' MD-11 fleet.

The takeaway

The retirement of UPS' MD-11 fleet marks the end of an era for the three-engine aircraft, which had made up a minority portion of the company's widebody fleet and was primarily used on long-haul international cargo routes. The decision comes after a deadly accident in Louisville that killed 15 people and led to the grounding of the MD-11 fleet.