FedEx will return its MD-11 freighters to service next month after a six-month grounding, reports London's Air Cargo News.

The fleet was parked following the fatal crash of a UPS MD-11F on 4 November 2025, which led the US Federal Aviation Administration to issue an emergency directive requiring inspections.

FedEx Chief Operating Officer Richard Smith told the Wings Club in New York that the aircraft are 'ready to go.' The company had earlier stated it was working with Boeing and the FAA to restore operations by the end of its fourth quarter on 31 May.

FedEx has 29 MD-11Fs, most of which are over 30 years old, with the oldest being 36 years. The decision to return them to service contrasts with UPS, which retired its MD-11Fs in late 2025 and is replacing them with Boeing 767Fs.

Western Global Airlines also operated 15 MD-11Fs, all of which are currently parked.

While the grounding initially raised concerns about global cargo capacity, the aircraft have mainly flown domestic routes, limiting the impact on international freight.