UPS retires MD-11F fleet following FAA suspension after fatal crash

UPS has announced the retirement of its McDonnell Douglas MD-11F freighter fleet, bringing forward the withdrawal of the aircraft, which was completed in the fourth quarter.

The decision comes after a fatal accident involving the type last year, which led the Federal Aviation Administration to suspend MD-11 operations in the United States while the causes of the crash were investigated.

The MD-11 is a legacy tri-jet design that had already been moving toward the end of its operational life at UPS. Following the FAA suspension, the company opted to complete the phase-out during the fourth quarter of 2025 rather than return the aircraft to service. As a result, UPS recorded a non-cash, after-tax charge of $137 million related to the write-off of its MD-11 fleet.

The MD-11F had been a core part of UPS’s long-haul cargo operations for decades, but the type has gradually been replaced by newer freighters. With the retirement finalized, UPS no longer operates the MD-11, relying instead on aircraft such as the Boeing 767F, 777F and Airbus A300-600F for its cargo network.

In the United States, only a limited number of operators continue to fly the MD-11. FedEx and Western Global Airlines remain the largest operators of the type. FedEx said last year that it expects to resume MD-11F operations by May, following the regulatory review triggered by the accident.

The fleet decision was disclosed alongside UPS’s financial results for the fourth quarter of 2025. The company reported quarterly revenue of $24.5 billion and operating profit of $2.6 billion. For the full year, UPS posted revenue of $88.7 billion, operating profit of $7.9 billion and operating cash flow of $8.5 billion.

“2025 was a year of considerable progress for UPS as we took action to strengthen our revenue quality and build a more agile network. Looking ahead, upon completion of the Amazon glide-down, 2026 will be an inflection point in the execution of our strategy to deliver growth and sustained margin expansion,” said Carol Tomé, UPS chief executive officer.

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