[SteveNuts]

Even if they end the grounding of the MD-11/DC-10 I'd be shocked if any airlines still using them will continue to use them.

Seems like the risk/reward just isn't really there for the few of them still in service, and if anything happened it would be a PR nightmare on top of a tragedy.

Definitely an end of an era!

[mrpippy]

UPS and FedEx each have around 25 MD-11s, Western Global has 2 I think, the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital is an MD-10, some cargo airline in Botswana has one, and 10 Tanker has some DC-10 firefighting tankers.

That’s the entire worldwide fleet.

[rft]

Given that the report only mentioned a single other seemingly related accident in 1979 I am not sure that objectively this is a reason to discontinue flying these planes. The fact that these planes have been in service since the early 70s is a testament to their safety and reliability in itself. Of course public perception, especially with the videos of huge fireballs from hitting one of the worst possible locations, might put enough pressure on airlines to retire the planes anyway.

I agree on the end of an era. Hearing something else besides just Airbus- or Boeing-something always gives me a bit of joy. Even though MDs and DCs are of course Boeings in a sense now as well.

[TinkersW]

One other accident that was similiar, but these planes have had a ton of crashes for other reason.

[mandevil]

I think that the Mad Dogs only exist as freighters (~or their derivative KC-10 tankers~-Edited to correct that they retired last year) these days. I think the last pax service for any of them was over a decade ago.

And air freight just gets a lot less public attention, I think they are going to keep flying them if they don't get grounded.

[joleyj]

The airforce retired the KC-10 in 2021.

[inferiorhuman]

Most of the DC-10s in service in the US are used for fire fighting.

[buildsjets]

The KC-10 went out of service last year. None are operating.

[m2fkxy]

Mad dogs are MD-80s.

[burnt-resistor]

There were only about 18 aircraft of all types still flying at the time and none are dedicated passenger aircraft. Indefinite grounding is the most sensible move.

Now, Boeing, et. al. are trying to evaluate the deficiencies in existing D checks and put together an inspection regime (i.e., NDT) that would proactively identify fatigue that would economically permit continued serviceable operation. If this feat turns out to be impossible for technical or cost reasons, then and only then will the grounding will become permanent.

[loeg]

Airlines haven't been using them, or at least not 1st world airlines. Just freight and wilderness fire fighters.

[virtue3]

Most of them are used as cargo planes. Which have dramatically lower usage rates than passenger planes (and they are retired passenger planes)

Sucks for the pilots flying them for sure tho.