Summary
UPS Airlines has formally announced the retirement of its McDonnell Douglas MD-11 freighter fleet, bringing a definitive end to decades of tri-jet operations with one of aviation’s most recognisable long-haul cargo workhorses. This decision comes after a fatal MD-11 crash in November 2025 and the subsequent grounding of the type, marking a somber conclusion to the aircraft’s role in one of the world’s largest cargo networks.
Official Retirement Announcement
On 27 January 2026, UPS confirmed in its fourth-quarter 2025 earnings report that the MD-11 fleet had been officially retired, closing the chapter on the aircraft’s role within the airline. UPS recorded a US$137 million non-cash charge related to accelerating the retirement of the type and wrote down the aircraft as part of its fleet renewal strategy.
Prior to retirement and the subsequent grounding, the MD-11 accounted for roughly 9 % of UPS’s total aircraft fleet and was primarily used on long-haul international cargo operations.
UPS had already been planning to phase out the MD-11 over the next few years in favour of more fuel-efficient twin-engine freighters such as the Boeing 767-300F and 777F, but the looming retirement was fast-tracked by recent events.
A Tragic Catalyst: The Louisville Crash
The decision to retire the MD-11 fleet follows the deadly crash of UPS Flight 2976 on 4 November 2025 near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport. The McDonnell Douglas MD-11F — a three-engine freighter built in the early 1990s — suffered a catastrophic left engine separation during its takeoff roll, crashed into nearby buildings and erupted into flames.
All three crew members aboard the flight were killed, along with 12 people on the ground, bringing the total death toll to 15. The incident was the deadliest in UPS Airlines’ history and prompted immediate action from regulators and the airline alike.
In the days after the accident, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an Emergency Airworthiness Directive grounding all MD-11 and MD-11F aircraft for inspections and any necessary repairs, after safety concerns arose about structural integrity following the accident. Flying operations by both UPS and its main competitor FedEx were halted as a result.
A Legacy Defined by Service and Change
A VARIG MD-11. Photo (c) Colin Cooke
The McDonnell Douglas MD-11 traces its roots to the DC-10 family, with the MD-11 itself introduced in the late 1980s as a more capable long-haul derivative. A total of only 200 MD-11s were ever produced before the program ended in 2000, and passenger operators began retiring their fleets years ago in favour of modern twinjets.
Cargo carriers, including UPS and FedEx, were among the last major operators of the type, valuing the tri-jet’s combination of range and payload for global freight services — even as newer aircraft offered better efficiency.
For many years, UPS operated an MD-11 fleet numbering in the 30s, flying on networks that stretched across Asia, Europe, the Americas and beyond. The type was a familiar sight at international freight hubs, especially UPS’s own Worldport at Louisville.
Industry Impact and Future Cargo Operations
FedEx MD-11 Tokyo Narita
With UPS now exiting the MD-11 entirely, the aircraft’s presence in commercial cargo operations has narrowed significantly. FedEx and Western Global Airlines were among the few other operators of the MD-11 as recently as late 2025, but both carriers grounded their fleets following the Louisville accident.
FedEx, with the largest MD-11 fleet in the world prior to the grounding, has indicated plans to return some aircraft to service after inspections — but they are also expected to transition to newer Boeing 767 and 777 freighters over time. Western Global’s smaller fleet had already seen many aircraft in storage prior to the crash.
The retirement of the MD-11 from UPS operations underscores a broader trend in cargo aviation toward twin-engine jets that can deliver considerable range with lower operating costs and reduced maintenance complexity — increasingly important considerations in a competitive freight market.#
Where Are UPS’ MD-11s Now?
Since the tragic accident in November, UPS grounded it’s MD-11 fleet, with many of these aircraft now stored at airports across their network.
As well as their main Louisville hub, where five of the jets are thought to be stored, the other aircraft can currently be found at:
- Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson International, GA
- Chicago O’Hare, IL
- Honolulu, HI
- Miami International, FL
- Minneapolis/St Paul, MN
- Ontario International, CA
- Phoenix Sky Harbor, AZ
- San Antonio, TX
- Seattle Boeing Field, WA
It is expected that, once inspections are completed on the engine mounting pylons of these aircraft, they will undertake a ferry flight to a final storage or scrapping location. In the past UPS has used Roswell, NM, Goodyear, AZ and Victorville, CA.
A Quiet Farewell to the Trijet Era
For aviation enthusiasts, the MD-11 has long held a special place in the modern aircraft pantheon: a three-engine design that bridged the gap between classic widebody trijets and today’s efficient twins.
