Western Global Airlines has furloughed its pilots following the prolonged grounding of its McDonnell Douglas MD-11 fleet. The decision comes after a UPS Airlines MD-11 accident on November 4, 2025, led the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to ground all aircraft of this type.
The airline communicated to its pilots via email that it hoped for a brief grounding period since the MD-11 forms the majority of its fleet. However, Boeing has indicated that more comprehensive and invasive inspections are needed before these planes can return to service. As a result, pilot furloughs took effect on November 22, 2025. News of the internal memo announcing these furloughs was first shared by airline pilot and podcast host Nik Fialka on LinkedIn on November 24.
Western Global Airlines operates primarily with MD-11 freighters, maintaining a fleet of 14 such aircraft averaging over 30 years in age and awaiting delivery of one more MD-11 freighter. The remainder of its fleet includes four Boeing 747-400 freighters. This heavy reliance on the MD-11 makes Western Global more vulnerable to disruptions than larger cargo carriers like UPS or FedEx Express, where the MD-11 represents only a small portion of their fleets.
Due to extended grounding requirements and additional inspections recommended by Boeing, Western Global stated it had “no choice” but to proceed with furloughs. In an internal communication, WGA said:
“In the entire twelve-year history of WGA, we never had any furloughs or pay cuts. However, the current situation is untenable, threatens the Company’s survival, and leaves WGA no choice. As a result, this letter is to notify you that, due to circumstances over which the Company has no control, you are being furloughed effective November 22, 2025.”
The FAA grounded all US-based MD-11s on November 8—four days after the fatal UPS crash—in response to safety concerns identified in preliminary investigations. Western Global Airlines emphasized its previously unblemished safety record but acknowledged being significantly affected by this regulatory action.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released detailed imagery from UPS Flight 2976’s accident sequence. The images show an engine separating from the aircraft moments before it crashed into an industrial park shortly after takeoff. The crash resulted in fatalities for all three crew members and eleven people on the ground.
Investigators found fatigue cracks in components attaching engines to wings and noted signs of repeated overstressing; further findings will emerge as inquiries continue.
UPS Airlines operates 26 MD-11 freighters while FedEx Express maintains a fleet of 58 such aircraft; both have also been impacted by the FAA’s directive but not as severely as Western Global due to their broader fleets.
According to CNN reporting referenced by investigators reviewing similar past incidents—including American Airlines Flight 191—the NTSB is examining historical crashes involving similar engine separations for clues about what caused this recent event.
The UPS aircraft involved had served over three decades and was scheduled for retirement when it crashed.
