FedEx makes 1st MD-11F test flight since November grounding

FedEx yesterday carried out a test flight with the youngest of its grounded MD-11Fs ahead of reentry into service later this month. The 1999-vintage, PW4000-powered unit 48792 took off from the FedEx hub in Memphis (MEM) and flew for approximately an hour and fifteen minutes. FedEx also flew another of its MD-11Fs (48478) at MEM for about an hour today. [caption id="attachment_57297002" align="aligncenter" width="1318"] FedEx intends to continue operating its MD-11Fs until fiscal 2032. (Courtesy/FedEx)[/caption] This was the first time that any MD-11 had taken to the air since the FAA grounded all MD-11s with its emergency airworthiness directive issued Nov. 8, 2025, following the Nov. 4 fatal crash of UPS flight 2976 in Louisville, Ky. (SDF). The FAA subsequently expanded the airworthiness directive to also cover all MD-10s and DC-10s, with all flights prohibited until an airplane is inspected and all applicable corrective actions are performed using a method approved by the FAA. Richard W. Smith, chief operating officer of international and chief executive of airline at FedEx, reiterated in April that the company planned to begin putting its MD-11Fs back into service this month. FedEx, which had in service twenty-five or so MD-11Fs ranging from 1999- to 1990-vintage and powered by both PW4000s and CF6s, has been waiting for the FAA to approve a fix to the spherical bearing assembly in the engine mounts, which attach the engine and pylon to the wing. The left CF6 engine and pylon detached from the wing of the 1991-vintage MD-11F (48417) that crashed. The NTSB said in a Nov. 20 preliminary report on the crash that it had found fatigue cracks on the left pylon’s aft mount lugs. In January, the NTSB also said that Boeing had warned operators in 2011 that the spherical bearing race in the engine mount had failed on four occasions on three different MD-11s . FedEx told Cargo Facts in January that it was working with Boeing and the FAA, and expected to reintroduce its MD-11Fs into service on a rolling basis upon completion of inspections and any required maintenance. While most of FedEx’s MD-11Fs are scattered around the United States, four have been parked overseas since the grounding: Two units (48459 and 48499) are in Singapore (SIN); One (48479) is in Taipei (TPE); and One (48553) is in Tokyo (NRT). FedEx expects the MD-11F grounding to result in a $55 million headwind to adjusted operating income in its fiscal Q4, which ends May 31. The company reported a $120 million headwind from the grounding in the third quarter, which ended Feb. 28, and $25 million in the second quarter, which ended Nov. 30, 2025. It intends to continue operating its MD-11Fs until fiscal 2032. UPS, the second-largest MD-11F operator before the grounding, announced in January that it would retire all twenty-six of its MD-11Fs as it continues to take delivery of production 767-300Fs from Boeing. It is unclear if Western Global Airlines , the only other MD-11 operator, intends to resume flying the type. Meanwhile, other MD-10Fs may fly again after the grounding is lifted. Miami-based JMB Aviation Group plans to relaunch operations soon with a pair of ex-FedEx MD-10-30Fs on its Venezuelan AOC, Transcarga International Airways, while non-profit Orbis International on May 2 flew its Flying Eye Hospital, a 1973-vintage MD-10-30F (46800), to San Antonio (SAT) from Tulsa (TUL) for inspection and maintenance. Fellow MD-10-30F operator, Transportes Aereos Bolivianos, has had its 1988-vintage freighter (48312) parked in Santa Cruz, Bolivia (VVI), since November 2025.

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