FedEx has begun returning its MD-11F freighters to service following a grounding that started in November 2025 after a UPS Airlines crash in Louisville prompted safety concerns.
The Federal Aviation Administration approved a Boeing-developed fix on May 11, 2026, to strengthen the wing-mounted engine pylons. Two aircraft have completed modifications and test flights from Memphis International Airport.
N621FE, operating as FX9045, flew a one-hour-15-minute test on May 9 and its first commercial flight to Miami on May 10. N521FE conducted a test flight on May 10 and flew commercially to Los Angeles the same day.
FedEx plans to restore 24 MD-11Fs to full service, with the remaining five held as a flex pool for demand surges. The fleet is scheduled for retirement by 2032 upon delivery of replacements.