FedEx has recently announced the return of four McDonnell Douglas MD-11 aircraft to service, after nearly two months since the FAA lifted the global grounding of the type. According to FedEx executives, the company has worked closely with Boeing, the FAA, and the NTSB to complete necessary repairs on the aircraft. CEO Raj Subramaniam confirmed that four of the MD-11s are now back in operation, while five others have been retired.

Currently, FedEx has a remaining fleet of 25 MD-11s, and the company expects to have all of them back in service before the peak season of the freight industry. The type was grounded last year after a UPS MD-11 crashed in Louisville, Kentucky, killing 15 people. Following the accident, the FAA approved Boeing’s proposed protocol to reinforce the engine pylons of the MD-11, one of which had failed during the crash.

After the FAA’s approval, FedEx quickly began repairing two of their MD-11s, and on May 10, officially resumed flights with the type from Memphis, Tennessee, to Los Angeles and Miami. In January, UPS retired their entire MD-11 fleet.

Despite the accident and grounding, FedEx plans to continue operating the MD-11 until 2032, when it will be replaced by newer and more efficient aircraft. In the meantime, the company is committed to following all safety protocols and working closely with regulators to ensure the safe operation of their MD-11 fleet.