The crash of a UPS Airlines cargo jet in Louisville, Kentucky, on November 4, 2023, has raised serious concerns about the safety and performance of the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 aircraft. Originally designed as a passenger airliner, the MD-11 has long been relegated to freight operations, where its reputation has been marred by a history of operational difficulties and safety incidents.
The MD-11, a trijet aircraft that debuted in 1990, was known for its challenging handling characteristics. It earned the nickname “Scud” among pilots, a reference to the uncontrolled missile used during the Iran-Iraq War. This moniker stemmed from the aircraft’s unpredictable landing behavior; pilots often joked that they could only be sure where they took off from, not where they would land. This difficulty was attributed to design flaws that made the MD-11 prone to hard landings, with a high incidence of accidents during touchdown.
According to the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the MD-11 had the highest rate of hard landings among 27 large Western-built aircraft types, recording approximately 5.63 hard landings per million flight cycles. This statistic underscores the aircraft’s problematic landing performance, which has led to multiple mishaps over the years. Notably, in a 2010 incident involving a Lufthansa Cargo MD-11F at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, the aircraft bounced on landing, resulting in significant damage to the fuselage. Fortunately, the crew survived, but this incident prompted a comprehensive investigation and recommendations for improved pilot training.
The NTSB’s recommendations in July 2011 called for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to revise the MD-11 Flight Crew Operating Manual to emphasize the importance of managing high sink rates during landing. This included training pilots to maintain proper pitch attitude after touchdown to mitigate bounce landings, which have been a recurrent issue for the aircraft.
By November 2025, statistics indicated a troubling safety record for the MD-11, with a total of approximately 50 aviation mishaps and 11 hull-loss accidents, leading to 244 fatalities across all hull-loss incidents. The aircraft was originally produced in significant numbers, with around 200 units manufactured, the majority configured for passenger service. However, the aircraft’s operational shortcomings led many airlines to sell their MD-11 fleets to cargo operators.
As airlines like Singapore Airlines and American Airlines moved away from the MD-11, converting passenger versions to cargo configurations became commonplace. While the aircraft struggled to meet performance expectations against competitors like the Boeing 777 and Airbus A330, the MD-11’s cargo variant found a niche in freight operations. Over half of the passenger-configured jets were eventually retrofitted for cargo service.
The recent crash of UPS Flight 2976 has reignited scrutiny of the MD-11’s safety profile. The aircraft in question was over 30 years old, highlighting the aging nature of the fleet still in operation. UPS, which continues to operate 27 MD-11Fs, is in the process of planning for a transition to the Boeing 767-300F, which will remain in production until 2027. The global demand for air freight has led to older aircraft being kept in service longer, despite their known issues.
Following the crash, preliminary investigations are ongoing, with local authorities noting reports of an explosion near the airport. The fallout from this incident is likely to influence the future of the MD-11 in commercial service. Given the extensive inspection and maintenance that will be required for the remaining fleet, some operators may opt to retire their MD-11s rather than investing in costly repairs.
The legacy of McDonnell Douglas, once a leader in aerospace innovation, now faces challenges as the MD-11’s operational history comes under renewed examination. As the aviation industry continues to evolve and prioritize safety, the fate of the MD-11 remains uncertain, potentially marking the end of an era for this notable aircraft.
