After Fatal Crash, UPS Moves From MD-11s to Boeing 767s
- Mar 27
- 1 min read
Following reports on UPS’s fleet changes after the November MD-11 crash, the company is retiring all 27 of its aging MD-11 cargo planes. The move comes after the fatal UPS Flight 2976 accident that killed 15 people and a $137 million after-tax charge.
UPS will replace the tri-engine aircraft with more efficient Boeing 767-300 freighters, receiving 18 new planes over the next 15 months. During the transition, the company relied on alternative aircraft, trucks, and partner airlines to maintain peak-season capacity.
While the 767s carry slightly less payload and have shorter range than the MD-11, UPS views the shift as a step toward a safer, more flexible, and efficient global network.