UPS retires MD-11 fleet months after Louisville crash, reports Q4 earnings

UPS has completed the retirement of its McDonnell Douglas MD-11 aircraft fleet, as it reported in its fourth-quarter 2025 earnings on Tuesday. The Atlanta-based delivery giant consolidated revenue of $24.5 billion for the quarter and diluted earnings per share of $2.10. Results included $238 million in charges, largely tied to the accelerated write-off of the MD-11 fleet and other transformation expenses. UPS said it completed its retirement of the MD-11 fleet as part of its fleet modernization plan. The announcement follows scrutiny of the aging cargo jets after a fatal crash in Louisville, Kentucky, on Nov. 4, 2025. A UPS-operated MD-11 crashed shortly after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF), killing 15 people, including three crew members and 12 people on the ground. View this post on Instagram A post shared by GlobalAir.com (@globalaircom) UPS grounded all of its MD-11's following the crash.Federal investigators with the NTSB zeroed in on structural issues with a key engine mount component as part of their probe into the crash. A preliminary report found that a bearing assembly in the left engine pylon developed fatigue cracks and ultimately failed, causing the engine to separate from the wing before the crash. The report also revealed that Boeing, which acquired McDonnell Douglas in 1997, had identified problems with the same part in a 2011 service bulletin. At the time, Boeing advised operators to inspect the component but did not classify the issue as a safety-of-flight risk. In the UPS earnings release, CEO Carol Tomé thanked employees for delivering strong service during the peak season. "2025 was a year of considerable progress for UPS as we took action to strengthen our revenue quality and build a more agile network," said Carol Tomé. "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." UPS said its fourth-quarter results included $238 million in charges, including a $137 million non-cash write-down tied to the retirement of its MD-11 fleet and $101 million in transformation-related expenses, reducing earnings by 28 cents per share. RELATED ARTICLES:NTSB states cracked part in crashed UPS Douglas MD-11 was identified in 2011FAA issues Emergency Airworthiness Directive following UPS crash in LouisvilleUPS MD-11 cargo freighter crashes south of Louisville airport