FedEx Resumes MD-11 Flights Following Safety Inspections After Fatal Crash
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — FedEx has returned two MD-11 aircraft to service after safety inspections related to a deadly crash in November 2025 that killed 15 people.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounded all MD-11s following the incident at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport. UPS permanently retired its MD-11 fleet in January.
FedEx spokesperson Isabel Rollison stated that the company has conducted thorough inspections and maintenance in collaboration with Boeing, the FAA, and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to ensure the safety of its MD-11 fleet.
The two aircraft, N621FE and N521FE, successfully completed inspection, maintenance, and test flights before returning to service on May 8, 2026. FedEx Flight 985 flew from Memphis to Miami, while Flight 980 traveled from Memphis to Los Angeles.
The NTSB continues to investigate the November crash, which involved pylon failures identified in previous Boeing assessments as non-critical. New compliance measures by Boeing now require updated bearings to be installed on all MD-11s, along with additional inspections at specified intervals.
The NTSB is scheduled to hold investigative hearings on May 19 and 20 in Washington, D.C.