MD-11 Grounding After Crash May Linger on ‘Invasive’ Checks (1)

The grounding of the workhorse freighter plane involved in a recent deadly crash in Kentucky may drag on for an “undeterminable period,” creating havoc for United Parcel Service Inc., FedEx Corp. and a small Florida-based cargo carrier.

McDonnell Douglas MD-11 planes will be subject to “highly invasive” inspections as well as repairs and part replacements, according to an internal memo by Tom Romnios, vice president of human resources at Western Global Airlines. He also wrote that the cargo carrier was furloughing pilots effective Nov. 22.

The MD-11 makes up most of Western Global’s 19 aircraft fleet, with the ...