Home Care In Ground, MD

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US cargo carriers UPS Airlines (UPS) and FedEx Express (FedEx) have temporarily halted operations of their fleets of McDonnell Douglas MD?11F freighter aircraft following the fatal crash earlier this week.

The action comes after a UPS-operated MD-11 crashed during takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky on Nov. 4, killing all three crew members on board and at least 11 people on the ground.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the crash involved the left-hand engine and pylon detaching from the aircraft during the takeoff roll.

Boeing, which acquired the MD-11 programme when it merged with McDonnell Douglas Corporation in 1997, recommended grounding the aircraft “out of an abundance of caution” while additional engineering analysis is performed.

UPS said its roughly 26-plane MD-11 fleet (about 9 % of its total fleet) was grounded “proactively” on Boeing’s recommendation. FedEx said it had immediately grounded its 28 MD-11s (out of a total fleet of about 700 aircraft) while conducting a safety review.

The FAA issued an emergency airworthiness directive prohibiting MD-11 flights until inspections and any necessary fixes are complete. The directive applies to all operators of the type.

Industry analysts point out that while the MD-11 freighter is an older design (deliveries ended in 2000), it remains in service with cargo operators such as UPS, FedEx, and Western Global Airlines.

The grounding and inspection mandate could cause short-term disruptions in overnight cargo operations, though carriers emphasise safety is the overriding priority. The crash and resulting review underscore the risks associated with ageing aircraft types and the need for rigorous oversight.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the crash, including the maintenance history of the aircraft and the sequence of events in the cockpit, where a repeating alarm bell was recorded some 37 seconds after takeoff thrust was applied.

As of now, no timeline has been given for when the MD-11 fleet may return to service. Regulators, Boeing and the operators say resumption will depend on the outcome of detailed inspections and analysis.

Death Toll Rises to 13 in UPS Plane Crash as Investigators Probe Engine Failure

The large-scale loss of rainwater has led to rapid depletion of groundwater

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Hyderabad: Barely 0.75–0.95 per cent of the rainwater percolates into the ground despite the average annual rainfall of 85–89 cm in Hyderabad.

Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) managing director Ashok Reddy said the bulk of the rainwater flows into stormwater drains and eventually into the Musi River.

The large-scale loss of rainwater has led to rapid depletion of groundwater and a sharp rise in tanker demand across residential colonies, he added.

Recharge pits made mandatory

To arrest the decline in groundwater levels, Ashok Reddy announced that recharge pits have been made mandatory based on plot size.

While every residential plot up to 200 square yards must have a recharge pit, plots exceeding 300 square yards are required to construct one within their premises.

He said the initiative aims to conserve rainwater, restore groundwater levels, and ensure sustainable water availability for domestic use.

100-day action plan from next week

Ashok Reddy said the Water Board has prepared a 100-day special action plan, which will be launched from next week, to accelerate groundwater recharge across Hyderabad and within the Outer Ring Road (ORR) limits.

The plan focuses on mass adoption of rainwater harvesting structures through public participation under the “One House–One Recharge Pit” campaign.

Awareness drive begins at Madhapur

As part of the campaign, the HMWSSB MD, along with senior officials, visited Madhapur here. He interacted with residents and highlighted successful water conservation practices.

Ashok Reddy appreciated residents of an apartment complex in Kakatiya Hills, comprising 15 flats, for overcoming water scarcity by installing an injection borewell system, calling it a model for community-led water management.

CM’s directive to improve groundwater

The Water Board MD said the action plan was drawn up following directions from Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, with a focus on increasing groundwater levels within the ORR region.

He stressed that gated communities, residential welfare associations, and commercial establishments must actively participate in groundwater recharge efforts.

Concrete expansion blocks natural recharge

Ashok Reddy pointed out that extensive concretisation of residential, commercial, and open spaces has severely reduced natural rainwater infiltration.

“As a result, groundwater levels have fallen sharply, borewells have dried up and dependence on tankers has increased even for non-drinking water needs,” he said.

Survey reveals recharge infrastructure gaps

Based on tanker booking data, the Water Board surveyed 40,209 residential premises that booked more than 20 tankers per month. The survey revealed that 22,825 premises had recharge pits, while 17,384 did not.

So far, notices have been issued to about 16,000 households, directing them to install recharge pits. Another 25,000 houses are targeted to be covered by March 2026.

Four-pronged groundwater recharge strategy

To maximise rainwater harvesting, the Water Board will roll out a four-pronged groundwater recharge plan, which includes:

Mandatory recharge pits for large residential and commercial plots.

Conversion of defunct borewells into injection borewells.

Construction of public recharge pits in colonies, parks, government premises, and educational institutions.

Channelising rooftop rainwater into recharge structures through pipelines.

Special awareness programmes will also be organised for gated communities and high-rise apartments.

National recognition for water conservation efforts

In recognition of its initiatives, HMWSSB recently received the ‘Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB) 1.0 Award’ under the Top Municipal Corporation category.

The award was presented to Ashok Reddy by President Droupadi Murmu in New Delhi and includes a Rs 2-crore cash incentive to strengthen water conservation programmes.

Recharge pits can reduce need for new water projects

Ashok Reddy said that widespread adoption of recharge pits could help channel 5–10 TMC of rainwater annually into the ground, potentially eliminating the need for future large-scale water supply projects.

“We spend crores pumping water from distant reservoirs while rainwater flows unused into drains. If harvested locally, it can revive borewells, reduce tanker dependence, and save public money,” he said.

Calling for collective action, he urged citizens to treat rainwater harvesting as a civic responsibility to secure the city’s water future.

Nov. 20, 2025 at 11:00 AM ET

We continue to grieve for the lives lost in the tragic accident involving Flight 2976. Before the FAA issued its Emergency Airworthiness Directive for all MD-11 operators, UPS proactively grounded its MD-11 fleet out of an abundance of caution. We appreciate the National Transportation Safety Board’s prompt release of preliminary findings and will fully support the investigation through its conclusion.

Nov. 12, 2025 at 1:40 PM ET

The Jefferson County coroner has now identified all those who tragically lost their lives in the Flight 2976 accident and has notified their families. We honor them and extend our deepest condolences to their loved ones at this exceedingly difficult time.

We appreciate the dedication and compassion shown by the coroner’s office throughout this process.

Nov. 7, 2025 at 11:45 PM ET

Out of an abundance of caution and in the interest of safety, we have made the decision to temporarily ground our MD-11 fleet. MD-11s are approximately 9% of the UPS Airlines fleet. The grounding is effective immediately. We made this decision proactively at the recommendation of the aircraft manufacturer. Nothing is more important to us than the safety of our employees and the communities we serve.

Contingency plans are in place to ensure we can continue to deliver the reliable service our customers around the world count on.

Nov. 6, 2025 at 3:47 PM ET UPS Flight 2976 Crewmember Statement

Statement from Nando Cesarone, UPS Executive Vice President, U.S. & UPS Airlines

Words can’t express the sorrow we feel over the heartbreaking Flight 2976 accident. It’s with great sorrow that we share the names of the UPS pilots on board UPS Flight 2976. Captain Richard Wartenberg, First Officer Lee Truitt, and International Relief Officer Captain Dana Diamond were operating the flight.

Our hearts go out to every UPSer who has been impacted and all in our Louisville community – supporting you and ensuring you receive the care and resources you need is our priority.

This continues to be an incredibly sad time for our entire UPS family, and as our CEO, Carol Tomé reminded us: “United, we are strong.”

We extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of our colleagues, and to the loved ones of those in the Louisville community.

Nov. 5, 2025 at 7:45 PM ET

Earlier today, UPS CEO Carol Tomé sent the following message to UPS employees to honor all who have been impacted by the Flight 2976 tragedy.

We continue to work with the National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) and local authorities as they investigate. NTSB is responsible for the investigation and will be the primary source of information as updates are available.

Our hearts continue to be with all who have been impacted. We have received an outpouring of support from around the world – we deeply appreciate every prayer and word of encouragement.

We will release more facts as they become available.

Here’s what Carol shared with UPS employees.

To my UPS Family:

We have suffered a tragic accident involving Flight 2976. We are deeply saddened and our hearts continue to be with all who have been impacted. We will keep them in our hearts as we continue our commitment to safety, care and community.

I am incredibly grateful to our team in Louisville for their grace and professionalism. We are not alone in this moment and from the notes I’ve received from around the world, I know that solidarity and empathy are powerful forces in healing. United, we are strong.

Please share this message with your teams and join me in honoring all who have been impacted and all who responded to this tragedy. Keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Thank you, Carol

Nov. 5, 2025 at 8:45 AM ET

UPS’s Second Day Air sort today at Worldport has been cancelled. Hub and Ramp employees on the Second Day Air sort should not report to work.

Family members seeking information should call 800-631-0604.

Nov. 4, 2025 at 9:30 PM ET

We are terribly saddened by the accident tonight in Louisville. Our heartfelt thoughts are with everyone involved. UPS is committed to the safety of our employees, our customers and the communities we serve. This is particularly true in Louisville, home to our airline and thousands of UPSers.

We are engaged with the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation of the accident and are staying in close contact with the Federal Aviation Administration. We will work tirelessly with state and local authorities on response efforts.

As a result of the accident, we are halting package sorting operations tonight at Worldport.

Family members seeking information should call 800-631-0604.

Nov. 4, 2025 at 5:45 PM ET

At approximately 5:20 PM ET tonight, UPS Flight 2976 from Louisville, KY, to Honolulu, an MD-11 with three crewmembers onboard, was involved in an accident in Louisville. At this time, we have not confirmed any injuries/casualties.

UPS will release more facts as they become available, but the National Transportation Safety Board is in charge of the investigation and will be the primary source of information about the official investigation.

Family members seeking information should call 800-631-0604.

‍DALLAS — In an unprecedented move, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has expanded its emergency Airworthiness Directive for the Boeing MD-11 to encompass all DC-10 and MD-10 aircraft variants.

This sweeping action is a response to this month’s alarming incident in which a UPS MD-11F lost its left engine and pylon during takeoff—a failure still under investigation that has ramifications for the broader fleet due to structural similarities among these aircraft types.

“The FAA is issuing this emergency AD because the agency has determined the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design,” reads the directive, issued as AD 2025-23-53.

Scope of the Directive

The directive now applies to:

Further flight is strictly prohibited for all affected models “until the airplane is inspected and all applicable corrective actions are performed using a method approved by the Manager, AIR-520, Continued Operational Safety Branch, FAA,” per the AD.

Notably, the FAA has forbidden the issuance of special flight permits except under narrowly defined conditions, again reinforcing the urgency:

“Special flight permits, as described in 14 CFR 21.197 and 21.199, are not allowed unless approved in accordance with [specific emergency procedures],” states the order.

Justification for Immediate Adoption

The directive’s issuance bypassed the standard public comment period, relying on a rarely invoked provision for good cause under the Administrative Procedure Act. The FAA wrote:

“The severity of the unsafe condition necessitates prohibiting further flight until … corrective actions are performed. The compliance time … is shorter than the time necessary for the public to comment and for publication of the final rule.”

C-10,MD-10 Fleet

The number of active DC-10 and MD-10 aircraft worldwide in 2025 is limited, and none are operated in regular passenger service. Most are dedicated to special missions, cargo, or humanitarian work. Here’s a comprehensive list, based on recent fleet reports and authoritative industry sources:

Active DC-10, MD-10 Aircraft (2025):

Most DC-10 and MD-10 freighters (including those formerly flown by FedEx and UPS) have now been retired or stored in the wake of recent FAA directives.

What Comes Next for Operators

Affected operators range from fire and medevac carriers to major cargo airlines and Air Force refuelers. The FAA considers this directive “an interim action,” with further rule-making likely as the investigation progresses. Requests for alternative compliance must be directed to the FAA and be approved at the highest levels.

For full official details, see FAA Emergency Airworthiness Directive AD 2025-23-53, issued November 14, 2025.

Following the 4th of November crash of the MD-11 (UPS Airlines Flight 2975) at Louisville International Airport, . It has since broadened its groundings to include MD-10 and DC-10 aircraft.

FAA broadens groundings to include MD-10/DC-10s

The directive to ground MD-11 aircraft was issued on 8th November, while the directive expanded to MD-10s/DC-10s on 14th November. .

The FAA is investigating among these aircraft types as the reason for the groundings. The MD-11F aircraft crashed on takeoff after the left engine detached from the wing.

It should be noted that this isn’t the first time this has happened. The DC-10 first entered service in 1971, and in 1979, the fleet was grounded after an American Airlines DC-10 lost one of its engines on take-off at Chicago O’Hare. Structural deficiencies had been thought to be fixed.

The FAA issued a new emergency airworthiness directive late Friday expanding immediate mandatory inspections of engine pylon structures to DC-10 and MD-10 aircraft. This follows last week’s EAD for MD-11s after the crash of UPS 2976. https://t.co/vVsoHDSrNc pic.twitter.com/6mSBwJa6Xl

— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) November 15, 2025

The FAA directive says, “This emergency AD [Airworthiness Directive] prohibits further flight until the airplane is inspected and all applicable corrective actions are performed.”

Only a limited number of MD-10/DC-10s remain in service

MD-10/DC-10 aircraft may be a dying breed, but a limited number are still operational. FedEx has already retired its DC-10s, while the United States Air Force retired the last of its military KC-10A Extender tankers in 2024. Following these retirements, around ten DC-10s are believed to be operational.

While the USAF has retired its DC-10-based tankers, the type still refuels US aircraft. The contractor, Omega Aerial Refueling Services, operates two ex-Dutch KDC-10 tankers.

Internationally, one DC-10 remains in service as a freighter in Bolivia for Transportes Aereos Bolivianos. Another is operated by Cargo Three in Panama.

One MD-10 is famously in service with Orbis as the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital. That aircraft is currently in Tulsa, Oklahoma, undergoing routine maintenance. Orbis stated it is “in full compliance with the FAA directive.”

From our home base in Albuquerque, New Mexico, 10 Tanker has been taking to the skies since 2002.4 iconic DC-10s. 90 stellar staff members plus contractors. 1 mission- helping fight wildfires globally from the air.????: Ryan Grothe#AerialFirefighting #TeamworkFromTheSky pic.twitter.com/2BNGz7TY2b

— 10_Tanker Air Carrier (@Ten_Tanker) October 30, 2025

The largest DC-10 operator is 10 Tanker Air Carrier, which has a fleet of five DC-10s as waterbombers. The company does not appear to have publicly responded to the groundings, although its most recent posts on X (formerly Twitter) are related to highlighting its aircraft’s maintenance.

Fortunately for 10 Tanker Air Carrier, the fire season has recently ended and will not return until around July.

Remaining MD-11s in service

The McDonnell Douglas DC-10 was built to succeed the DC-8 on long-haul flights. A total of 386 were built between 1969 and 1989. According to the , .

It was developed into the MD-11 trijet and built by McDonnell Douglas and then Boeing after the merger in 1997. A total of 200 were built, with the last coming off the production line in 2000. The type was retired from passenger services in 2014.

According to Planespotters.net, the MD-11 now only has three operators, and it is exclusively used as a freighter. 29 MD-11s remain in service with FedEx, 27 are in service with UPS, and 15 are in service with Western Global Airlines.

FedEx currently plans to phase these aircraft out by 2032, as they are replaced with Boeing 767-300F and Boeing 777F freighters. Separately, before new regulations come into force in 2027.

???????? Massive fire in the area of the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky, US, following the crash of a UPS Douglas MD-11 freighter plane.Casualties reported. pic.twitter.com/IFUidtfCxY

— Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) (@Archer83Able) November 4, 2025

UPS is also gradually phasing its MD-11s out. Western Global Airlines is a smaller freighter that only recently emerged from bankruptcy, and only some MD-11s were operational before the groundings.

Featured Image: 10 Tanker