It was almost inevitable...

With the discovery that the number one engine and pylon assembly had departed the aircraft just before the aircraft departed the runway, UPS grounded their MD-11 fleet, followed shortly by FedEx, who is the other big operator of the type.

The last passenger flights of the MD-11 occurred in the mid-'00s, with the remaining flying aircraft converted to cargo haulers. The USAF retired its McDonnell-Douglas KC-10 Extender fleet, also based on the DC-10, last year, replacing it with the Boeing KC-46 Pegasus.

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