# 2025-20804: Boeing MD-11 Engine Falls Off: FAA Issues Broader Airworthiness Fixes

2025-20804, Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes, is a Federal Register rule from Transportation Department, Federal Aviation Administration published 2025-11-24, effective 2025-12-01 (as of 2026-06-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-20804
- As of: 2026-06-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2025-20804
- Title: Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes
- Type: Rule
- Agencies: Transportation Department; Federal Aviation Administration
- Citation: 90 FR 52851
- Published: 2025-11-24
- Effective: 2025-12-01
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: no
- Regulation identifier numbers: 2120-AA64
- Last updated: 2026-06-11

## In one line

Boeing MD-11 Engine Falls Off: FAA Issues Broader Airworthiness Fixes

## Summary

The FAA is updating safety rules for Boeing airplanes after a scary accident where an engine fell off during takeoff. Now, more Boeing models like the MD-10 and DC-10 series must be inspected and fixed before flying again. These new rules start December 1, 2025, and could cost operators some time and money but keep everyone safer in the sky.

## Abstract

The FAA is superseding Emergency Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2025-23-51, which applied to all The Boeing Company Model MD-11 and MD- 11F airplanes. Emergency AD 2025-23-51 was prompted by an accident where the left-hand engine and pylon detached from the airplane during takeoff. Emergency AD 2025-23-51 prohibited further flight until the airplane is inspected and all applicable corrective actions are performed using a method approved by the FAA. Since the FAA issued Emergency AD 2025-23-51, the FAA has determined additional airplane models are subject to the same unsafe condition. This emergency AD continues to require the actions in AD 2025-23-51 and adds the Model MD-10-10F, MD-10-30F, DC-10-10, DC-10-10F, DC-10-15, DC-10-30, DC-10- 30F (KC-10A and KDC-10), DC-10-40, and DC-10-40F airplanes to the applicability. The FAA previously sent an emergency AD to all known U.S. owners and operators of these airplanes. The FAA is issuing this emergency AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

## Effects PRIA read

- Grounding until inspection and fixes: cost, high. As of December 1, 2025, affected Boeing MD-11, MD-11F, MD-10 (MD-10-10F, MD-10-30F) and DC-10 series airplanes are prohibited from further flight until each airplane is inspected and all applicable corrective actions are performed using a method approved by the Manager, AIR-520, Continued Operation…
- More Boeing models added; 167 U.S. planes affected: cost, medium. The AD expands applicability beyond MD-11/MD-11F to include MD-10-10F, MD-10-30F, and DC-10 models (DC-10-10, -10F, -15, -30, -30F (KC-10A and KDC-10), -40, -40F), and the FAA estimates the rule affects 167 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA also states it has no definitive data to estimate the in…
- Special flight permits restricted: cost, medium. Special flight permits under 14 CFR 21.197 and 21.199 are not allowed for affected airplanes unless approved per the procedures specified in the AD (see paragraph (i)(1)). This means operators cannot move affected airplanes under a standard special flight permit without separate approved authorizat…

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## Sources
- [2025-20804 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/11/24/2025-20804/airworthiness-directives-the-boeing-company-airplanes)
- [2025-20804 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2025-11-24/pdf/2025-20804.pdf)

## Related
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-20804 (as of 2026-06-11).