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muriel_volestrangler

(105,212 posts) Sat Nov 8, 2025, 05:39 AM Nov 8

UPS and FedEx ground some cargo planes after Kentucky air disaster

Source: BBC

American delivery firms UPS and FedEx have temporarily grounded part of their fleets of cargo planes after a mid-takeoff crash in Kentucky on Tuesday left at least 14 people dead.

The UPS aircraft burst into flames as it careered off the runway and collided with neighbouring business premises, triggering a huge fire which gutted several buildings and closed Louisville International Airport.

UPS said the decision to ground MD-11 models followed instructions from manufacturer Boeing, while rival delivery giant FedEx confirmed it would follow suit.
...
Hours before the fleet was grounded, officials confirmed that the death toll had risen to 14 after another body was found, with buildings caught up in the fire still being searched for more victims.

Read more: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2pr5y7p90o

3 replies

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UPS and FedEx ground some cargo planes after Kentucky air disaster (Original Post) muriel_volestrangler Nov 8 OP

I was reading that the MD-11 is way too old to be a passenger plane but, ... chouchou Nov 8 #1

Less age and more other factors: EX500rider Nov 8 #2

Ah..Quite interesting. Especially the "Failure to Meet Advertised Performance" from Singapore. chouchou Nov 8 #3

chouchou

(2,607 posts)

1. I was reading that the MD-11 is way too old to be a passenger plane but, ...

Reply to muriel_volestrangler (Original post)

Sat Nov 8, 2025, 10:27 AM

Nov 8

..in the corporate reality, the old plane is "fine for cargo".
My first thoughts were: Oh..I get it...explain that to the families that see their loved ones fall from the sky"

EX500rider

(12,100 posts)

2. Less age and more other factors:

Reply to chouchou (Reply #1)

Sat Nov 8, 2025, 10:35 AM

Nov 8

The MD-11 is primarily used for cargo operations and not passengers due to a combination of economic factors, performance issues that made it less competitive for passenger airlines, and characteristics that are highly valued by cargo carriers.

Reasons for Decline in Passenger Service
Inefficient Trijet Configuration: The MD-11's three-engine design became economically unviable for passenger airlines after the relaxation of ETOPS (Extended-range Twin-engine Operational Performance Standards) regulations. ETOPS allowed more fuel-efficient, twin-engine aircraft (like the Boeing 777 and Airbus A330) to fly long-haul, over-ocean routes with lower fuel and maintenance costs.

Failure to Meet Advertised Performance: The aircraft did not meet its original advertised range and fuel-burn targets, requiring some passenger flights to make unscheduled fuel stops or carry less payload. This was a major drawback for airlines like Singapore Airlines, which canceled their orders.

Challenging Handling Characteristics: The MD-11's smaller horizontal tail surface, designed for efficiency, reportedly made it more challenging to land, contributing to some incidents and potentially higher pilot training costs.

Negative Reputation: As an update to the DC-10, the MD-11 inherited some of the former's negative reputation, despite design improvements.

Reasons for Success in Cargo Service
Low Acquisition Cost: After passenger airlines phased out their MD-11s, cargo carriers were able to acquire them at significantly reduced prices. This low capital cost outweighed the aircraft's higher fuel burn for freighter operations.

Favorable Payload Capacity: The MD-11 has a high maximum takeoff weight and a good payload-to-volume ratio, making it well-suited for carrying dense cargo.

Operational Suitability: Cargo operations often involve less time in the air compared to long-haul passenger routes, making the MD-11's fuel inefficiency less of a primary concern.

Availability of Airframes: The large number of used passenger MD-11s available for conversion provided a ready supply of aircraft for cargo companies like FedEx and UPS to convert into dedicated freighters.

In essence, the MD-11 was economically outcompeted by newer, more efficient twin-engine jets for passenger service but found a second life as a workhorse in the cargo industry due to its strong structural capabilities and low purchase price

chouchou

(2,607 posts)

3. Ah..Quite interesting. Especially the "Failure to Meet Advertised Performance" from Singapore.