Western Global Airlines Reactivates MD-11F Cargo Plane After FAA Clearance

Western Global Airlines has returned an MD-11F freighter (tail N781SN) to service following FAA approval of a Boeing‑designed modification to the rear‑engine pylon. The aircraft, grounded for six months after the 2025 UPS MD-11 crash, completed a test flight on 23 May and then flew a route through U.S. military bases in Europe and Africa, stopping in Spain, Italy and Djibouti, before likely proceeding to the Diego Garcia base in the Indian Ocean.

The reactivation marks the first MD-11F of Western Global’s 15‑aircraft fleet to resume operations since FedEx began the same process. The other 14 MD-11s remain grounded pending further approvals. The FAA’s directive followed the UPS accident that prompted a temporary grounding of all U.S. MD‑11 freighters, leading UPS to retire its MD‑11 fleet while FedEx and now Western Global work to restore the type to cargo service.