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After a UPS plane crashed following takeoff at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport last week, leaving more than 10 people dead, the delivery company and FedEx have decided to ground all MD-11 planes.

The move has prompted concern over deliveries, particularly ahead of the holiday season. However, both companies told Newsweek the grounding should not affect their services.

"Contingency plans are in place to ensure we can continue to deliver the reliable service our customers count on. We anticipate this grounding is temporary," UPS said.

Meanwhile, FedEx said: "We are implementing contingency plans within our integrated air-ground network to minimize disruptions. Our teams are focused on delivering the highest standards of safety and service for our customers and team members."

Why It Matters

On November 4, a cargo aircraft operated by UPS Airlines crashed just after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky. Flight 2976 was headed to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, Hawaii.

The incident, footage of which has been circulated online, has left many in shock. One aviation analyst has deemed it "one of the worst, if not the worst, air crashes for a cargo jet in U.S. history."

Now that FedEx and UPS have grounded the planes, there are concerns about services being affected at a time when reliance on delivery companies is particularly high. According to ShipMatrix, 2.3 billion packages are forecast to be delivered this holiday season, a 5 percent increase compared to last year.

What To Know

After the crash, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also ordered all McDonnell Douglas MD-11 and MD-11F aircraft to remain on the ground as part of an investigation into the planes' structural safety.

In its order, titled Emergency Airworthiness Directive 2025-23-51, the agency determined "the unsafe condition" of the UPS plane that crashed was "likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design."

It is now therefore prohibited for any MD-11 or MD-11F plane to fly until it has been inspected and "all applicable corrective actions are performed using a method approved by the Manager, AIR-520, Continued Operational Safety Branch, FAA."

According to UPS, 26 of its 500 aircraft are MD-11s. Meanwhile, at FedEx, the planes represent 28 of its fleet of 700 aircraft.

While the planes make up only a small number of the delivery companies' fleets, some experts have warned that their grounding could still affect deliveries during the holiday season—given that each plane carries a significant number of deliveries. One MD-11 plane used by UPS can carry about 20,000 packages.

Jeremy Tancredi, a specialist in supply chain issues and partner at the consulting firm West Monroe, previously worked for UPS as an industrial engineer, and he told NPR, "As that peak volume increases and you need every bit of transportation capacity, not having 26 planes could be a real big factor for them."

However, both UPS and FedEx told Newsweek that they had contingency plans in place to ensure that deliveries were not affected by the grounding of the planes.

Satish Jindel, the president of the SJ Consulting Group, which provides strategic insight within the industry of transportation and logistics, told Newsweek he didn't believe the grounding would affect holiday deliveries as MD-11s are often used on international routes.

He said most products for the holidays had already "been received in the U.S. and in the distribution centers and the stores."

That said, Jindel added, the grounded planes and subsequent reduction in capacity could, in the near term, affect prices for international airfreight.

If it goes on for longer, he said cargo divisions of international passenger airlines may end up "leveraging the belly space of their wide-body aircraft—like Boing 777, 787, Airbus A350—to handle more freight by having passengers carry more items on board to make better use of the overhead bins."

What People Are Saying

UPS told Newsweek: "Out of an abundance of caution and in the interest of safety, we have made the decision to temporarily ground our MD-11 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."

FedEx told Newsweek: "Safety is our highest priority at FedEx. Out of an abundance of caution, we have made the decision to ground our MD-11 fleet as we conduct a thorough safety review based on the recommendation of the manufacturer."

What Happens Next

It is not clear how long the MD-11s will be forced to stay on the ground following the FAA's order, but if it lasts for multiple weeks, experts have said holiday deliveries will be affected.

A fleet of planes that UPS grounded after a deadly crash isn’t expected to be back in service during the peak holiday season due to inspections and possible repairs, the company said Wednesday in an internal memo.

The airline expects it will be several months before its McDonnell Douglas MD-11 fleet returns to service as it works to meet Federal Aviation Administration guidelines, said the memo from UPS Airlines president Bill Moore to employees. The process was originally estimated to take weeks but is now expected to take several months.

A fiery MD-11 plane crash on Nov. 4 in Louisville, Kentucky, killed 14 people and injured at least 23 when the left engine detached during takeoff. Cargo carriers grounded their McDonnell Douglas MD-11 fleets shortly after, ahead of a directive from the FAA.

“Regarding the MD-11 fleet, Boeing’s ongoing evaluation shows that inspections and potential repairs will be more extensive than initially expected,” Moore wrote in the memo.

A UPS spokesperson said in a statement that the company will rely on contingency plans to deliver for customers throughout the peak season, and it “will take the time needed to ensure that every aircraft is safe.”

The 109 remaining MD-11 airliners, averaging more than 30 years old, are exclusively used to haul cargo for package delivery companies. MD-11s make up about 9% of the UPS airline fleet and 4% of the FedEx fleet.

Boeing, which took over as the manufacturer of MD-11s since merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997, said in a statement that it is “working diligently to provide instructions and technical support to operators” so that they can meet the FAA’s requirements.

The FAA said Boeing will develop the procedures for inspections and any corrective actions, pending approval from the FAA.

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

“Do you remember the story of Moses when he came upon that burning bush that just would not go away? What did God tell him? Take off your shoes. This is holy ground. Our Sabbath Schools are holy ground,” said Sherri Uhrig, North American Division Children’s Ministries director.

Removing her shoes for emphasis, Uhrig closed the Sabbath School service of the 2025 NAD Year-End Meeting with prayer, setting a reverent tone for the day. Encompassing Sabbath School, a midday worship service, and an afternoon concert, the November 1, 2025, Sabbath at the NAD headquarters offered delegates a pause from reports, discussions, and votes to worship together as a division-wide family.

The morning opened with the YEM theme song, “Come Holy Spirit,” followed by a discussion on Sabbath School past, present, and future, led by Andre (Bill) Watson-Payne, NAD Sabbath School and Personal Ministries director.

Watson-Payne highlighted Do It Together, a joint virtual Sabbath School training initiative of Youth and Young Adult Ministries, Adult Ministries, and Children’s Ministries, noting that their efforts were critical during a period with no Sabbath School director (2021-2024).

Team members present included Tracy Wood, Vandeon Griffin, and Armando Miranda (Youth/Young Adult); Sherri Uhrig and Gerry Lopez (Children’s); and professional services project manager Kate Wolfer. They shared that Do It Together has grown from a few attendees from 15 conferences to nearly 900 from all NAD conferences and other world divisions by early 2025. “The more you stay at it and tweak and learn about the engagement you get and interact with online viewers, the [better] it gets,” said Miranda about online ministry.

Watson-Payne then shared the objectives of Sabbath School, from 1901 — faithful attendance, daily study, teacher care for each pupil, and generous giving to mission, to today’s aims of Bible study, fellowship, community outreach, and a world mission emphasis. Participants also discussed modern-day challenges, such as limited facilities for classes, declining attendance, lack of teacher training, and the need to make Sabbath School more relational and relevant.

“Sabbath School was designed to be a tool that brings souls to Christ,” he underscored, adding that its discipleship arm is best served through holistic small groups focused on community, evangelism, leadership, accountability, and equipping. Citing Ellen G. White (Counsels on Sabbath School Work, p. 9), he stated, “If properly conducted, the influence growing out of the Sabbath School will improve and enlarge the church.”

Watson-Payne closed with a call-to-action: “Friends, I pray that you will seek to pray about how you can revitalize, refresh, and grow Sabbath School in your churches. God bless you.”

NAD president G. Alexander Bryant delivered a powerful message titled “Oneness in Christ.” Weaving personal stories with biblical illustrations, he challenged attendees to embrace unity in diversity, rooted in the Holy Spirit and driven by mission. Drawing from Acts 2, he distinguished between unity and uniformity, emphasizing the need to maintain individuality while uniting to proclaim the everlasting gospel worldwide.

In a practical demonstration of oneness in Christ, NAD treasurer/CFO Judy R. Glass collected a special offering for those impacted by Hurricane Melissa, a category five storm delivering catastrophic damage to Jamaica, Cuba, the Bahamas, and other areas.

“This week, we saw images of one of the most powerful and destructive hurricanes to ever strike land in our part of the world,” she said, continuing, “Homes have been washed away. Churches have been damaged. Entire communities are struggling with basic necessities. Fear and uncertainty are real, and though these beloved nations are just outside our North American Division territory, they are not outside our hearts.”

Michael W. Campbell, director of NAD Archives, Statistics, and Research, wove history vignettes through both services. He traced the NAD’s beginnings from a General Conference department in the 1910s to its establishment as an official division on July 1, 1985, led by Charles E. Bradford. Bradford’s focus on compassion, justice, and evangelism laid a foundation for the division’s identity.

“[In the 1980s], there was a growing conviction among leaders that not having a North American Division was inhibiting the work of the church,” Campbell said, adding, “The North American Division exists for the purpose of mission. Every president since [1985] has looked to Pentecost as an inspiration for evangelism in the history and story of the North American Division.”

Musical groups added uplift and inspiration throughout the Sabbath. The Chitans — five siblings in full-time ministry — gave a 15-minute mini-concert during Sabbath School and were also featured in the divine worship service. Their repertoire ranged from Cece Winans’ hit rendition of “Goodness of God” to beloved Adventist hymn “Never Part Again.”

Other musicians who enhanced the Sabbath were Ruben and Gabriella Apola, who played the piano and violin, respectively; Gale Jones Murphy, who performed on piano and voice; and two groups from Andrews Academy — the Silhouettes choir and the Resound bell choir. The choir was featured in the main worship service, and both groups headlined the one-hour “president’s concert” at 5 p.m. with a repertoire of spirituals, sacred ensemble works, and classical pieces.

“Lord, unified by Your Spirit — on one accord, in one place, one mind, one purpose — we intersect there,” he prayed, pointing to believers’ shared mission. “We have our differences, sure, but we have one purpose: to spread the love of Jesus and [the promise of] His soon return. [So] pour out Your Spirit upon us.”

A recent and tragic aviation incident has led UPS Airlines to ground its fleet of McDonnell Douglas MD-11 aircraft for crucial inspections and potential repairs, a process that may extend through the busy peak delivery season. In an internal memo, UPS Airlines President Bill Moore informed employees of the indefinite grounding, which is required to comply with guidelines set forth by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The decision comes in the wake of a catastrophic MD-11 crash on November 4 in Louisville, Kentucky, which resulted in the loss of 14 lives and left at least 23 individuals injured. The accident occurred when the left engine detached during takeoff. Following this tragic event, cargo carriers, including UPS, promptly grounded their MD-11 fleets even prior to an official directive from the FAA.

Moore’s memo indicated that the extent of inspections and potential repairs related to the MD-11 fleet is proving to be more comprehensive than initially anticipated, pushing the estimated timeline from weeks to several months. The UPS spokesperson stated that the company is activating contingency plans to ensure customer deliveries continue throughout the peak season while prioritizing the safety of each aircraft.

There are currently 109 MD-11 aircraft remaining in operation, all of which are dedicated to cargo transport. These aircraft, which are more than 30 years old on average, represent about 9% of UPS’s airline fleet and 4% of FedEx’s fleet.

Boeing, which has been responsible for MD-11 manufacturing since its merger with McDonnell Douglas in 1997, is actively engaged in providing necessary guidance and technical assistance to operators. The company reaffirmed its commitment to helping ensure compliance with the FAA’s rigorous standards. The FAA has declared that Boeing will be responsible for developing the procedures for inspections and any corrective measures required, which will then await FAA approval.

As logistics companies brace for potential delivery challenges, the aviation industry watches closely to assess the implications of this incident on operations during one of the busiest times of the year for package delivery services.