FAA grounds DC-10 and MD-10 operations after MD-11 engine-separation incident

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a new Airworthiness Directive on DC-10 series aircraft after an engine separation incident with an UPS MD-11F in Louisville on November 4.

The directive follows the in-flight separation of the left engine from an MD-11F during takeoff, prompting mandatory inspections and corrective actions for affected airframes.

Aircraft models subject to the order include the MD-11, MD-11F, MD-10-10F, MD-10-30F, DC-10-10, DC-10-10F, DC-10-15, DC-10-30, DC-10-30F, KC-10A, KDC-10, DC-10-40, and DC-10-40F.

The FAA’s order prohibits operation of these models until operators complete required inspections and any necessary repairs, affecting both commercial and specialized operators.

The November 4 accident remains under investigation, with no immediate findings published by authorities.

Operators such as 10 Tanker and Omega Air remain among the few utilizing DC-10 variants for specialized missions, including aerial firefighting and refueling.

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Ricardo Meier

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