The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has grounded all McDonnell Douglas MD-11 aircraft after a UPS plane crash in Louisville last week killed 14 people. The FAA’s emergency directive cites the potential for hazardous conditions in similar aircraft. Both UPS and FedEx decided to suspend operations of their MD-11s, which make up a small portion of their fleets—26 at UPS and 28 at FedEx.
Boeing, which merged with McDonnell Douglas in 1997, recommended grounding the aircraft as a precaution. Holiday deliveries could face delays, as UPS MD-11s are capable of carrying 20,000 packages each. Experts believe that disruptions depend on how long the aircraft remain grounded. UPS and FedEx have contingency plans to mitigate delays, possibly using passenger planes or other modes of transport.
Despite potential issues, freight carriers are largely insulated from recent FAA-imposed flight activity caps, as UPS and FedEx typically operate at night. Shipping volumes are anticipated to increase during the holiday season, with over 2.3 billion packages expected. It’s suggested that consumers should “shop early” to ensure packages arrive on time.
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