Story perspectives

FAA Clears Boeing MD-11 Fix, FedEx Returns Jets

5/12/2026

Summary

Story summary

FAA gave approval to Boeing’s inspection and bearing-replacement protocol for MD-11 cargo jets.
FedEx returned two MD-11 aircraft to service weekend after the FAA lifted the grounding that followed the November 2025 UPS crash at Louisville’s Muhammad Ali International Airport, which killed 15.
Boeing’s fix installs a spherical bearing in side-pylon aft mount, adds inspections and a test flight before return.
The NTSB will hold investigative hearings on May 19-20.

History

Historical Context

After ValuJet Flight 592 burned into the Everglades on May 11 1996, killing 110 people, the FAA issued a February 14 memo urging immediate recertification and forced the airline to obtain approval before expanding its fleet—a response to a safety record 14 times worse than legacy carriers. That 1996 overhaul underpins today’s Boeing MD-11 bearing-replacement protocol for FedEx.

1 of 2

Story summary

FAA gave approval to Boeing’s inspection and bearing-replacement protocol for MD-11 cargo jets.
FedEx returned two MD-11 aircraft to service weekend after the FAA lifted the grounding that followed the November 2025 UPS crash at Louisville’s Muhammad Ali International Airport, which killed 15.
Boeing’s fix installs a spherical bearing in side-pylon aft mount, adds inspections and a test flight before return.
The NTSB will hold investigative hearings on May 19-20.

1 / 2