NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A prominent aviation safety attorney is condemning Federal Express’ plan to return Boeing MD-11 freighter aircraft to service, calling the move “reckless” following a deadly crash linked to a known structural defect in the plane’s wing design.
The criticism comes after FedEx confirmed it is in discussions with Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration about resuming MD-11F operations — months after a similar aircraft operated by United Parcel Service crashed shortly after takeoff from Louisville’s Muhammad Ali International Airport, killing 15 people and injuring dozens more.
On Nov. 4, 2025, the UPS-operated MD-11F experienced a left-engine fire moments after departure before slamming into multiple buildings near the airport, including a petroleum recycling facility, triggering a massive explosion. In the aftermath, Boeing grounded all MD-11F aircraft, followed by a formal grounding order from the FAA. On Jan. 28, 2026 — nearly three months after the crash — UPS retired all MD11Fs, replacing them with Boeing 767Fs.
According to findings released by the National Transportation Safety Board on Jan. 14, 2026, investigators identified a structural defect in the left wing assembly that supports the engine. The defect had been implicated in multiple prior incidents, yet operators were not required to repair it and the aircraft remained in service.
“This is history repeating itself,” said Keith Williams, a nationally known aviation attorney. “Lives were lost, people were hospitalized, and entire businesses were destroyed because of a defective wing design. The idea that this aircraft could be cleared to fly again without a full redesign is staggering.”
Williams said the defect should have been addressed long before the crash and must be permanently fixed before any MD-11F returns to the air.
“It’s inexcusable that this flaw was ignored despite warning signs,” Williams said. “It’s even more inexcusable to put these planes back in the sky without making the necessary safety improvements. We are gambling with human lives.”
FedEx announced on Jan. 28, 2026, that it is evaluating a return-to-service plan in coordination with Boeing and federal regulators. Williams is urging the FAA to reject any proposal that does not include a comprehensive structural correction and full transparency for the public.
“This is exactly the moment regulators are supposed to step in,” Williams said. “Safety cannot take a back seat to convenience or profit.”
In addition to his practice, Williams is the Past Chair of the American Association for Justice’s Aviation Litigation Section, and he is a member of the Aviation and Space Law Committee of the American Bar Association’s Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section. Mr. Williams is also a member and past president of the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association.
For more information, call (615) 444-2900 or visit www.keithwilliamslawgroup.com.
###
About Keith Williams Law Group
With two convenient locations, one in downtown Nashville and the other on the historic town square in Lebanon, Keith Williams Law Group can help its clients achieve the maximum possible compensation for their injuries. Its attorneys represent those who have been injured as a result of car accidents, trucking accidents, motorcycle accidents, aviation accidents, highway work zone accidents, defective products, and trucker broker negligence. For more information, call (615) 444-2900 or visit www.keithwilliamslawgroup.com.
