The End of the MD-11? FAA Steps In After Louisville Crash
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HceHGdS-Xmg
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Captain Steeeve | 10 November 2025}
The FAA has now taken the rare step of issuing an Emergency Airworthiness Directive and grounding every MD-11 operating in the United States. This came just days after the tragic crash in Kentucky, and today Captain Steeeve is reacting to this major development and explaining exactly what this means for the aviation world.
In the episode, Steeeve breaks down what an Emergency Airworthiness Directive actually is, why the FAA uses it so sparingly, and what criteria must be met before regulators can shut down an entire aircraft type with no warning. He then explains how this grounding affects passenger flights, overnight cargo networks, and global logistics—because the MD-11 is heavily used by freight operators around the world.
With this action from the FAA, Steeeve believes we may be looking at the permanent end of the MD-11 era. Even though the aircraft has a long service history, this directive signals that the risks now outweigh the benefits, and airlines are unlikely to invest in repairing, modifying, or re-certifying a fleet that is already aging.
This is a major moment in aviation safety and a turning point for both passenger and cargo operations. Steeeve walks through the facts, the impact, and what may happen next.