Emery Worldwide - Worldwide Flight Services

Emery Worldwide was a cargo airline, once one of the leading carriers in the cargo airline world. Its headquarters were located in Redwood City, California.

Emery started in 1946 and was the first freight forwarder to receive a carrier certificate from the United States Government. For 40 years, Emery was the largest freight forwarder/integrated air carrier in the US.

In 1987, Wilton, CT-based Emery acquired Purolator Courier, Inc., a leading provider of logistics services between the U.S. and Canada. In 1989, Emery was acquired by Consolidated Freightways, Inc. which gained U.S.-rights to the Purolator name. In 2011 Purolator was renamed Purolator International.

Emery had its planes grounded on August 13, 2001 due to poor aircraft fleet maintenance. It officially ceased operating on December 5, 2001 and as of 2006 has no plan to resume operations. All of Emery's cargo operations have been subcontracted to other airlines.

Emery's successor company, Menlo Worldwide Forwarding, was acquired by UPS at the end of 2004.

At the time of their closing, Emery used Boeing 727, and Douglas DC-8 and DC-10 aircraft to transport freight.

Presently UPS uses the name Emery Worldwide to market the air freight portion of UPS Supply Chain Solutions.

Accidents and incidents

On 28 March 1977, Douglas C-47A N57131 was destroyed by fire following a taxiing accident at O'Hare International Airport, Chicago, Illinois. The aircraft was due to operate a cargo flight.
On 8 July 1988, a defamation suit was filed after a package was opened in transit in Los Angeles that included a video tape containing cash allegedly for an NCAA basketball recruit (Chris Mills) for the University of Kentucky. The package was identified as being sent by then-assistant coach Dwayne Casey. Casey sued Emery Air Freight for $6.9 million but settled out of court before trial.
On 9 December 1996, Douglas C-47A N75142 crashed on approach to Boise Airport killing both crew. The aircraft was on a cargo flight to Salt Lake City International Airport when the starboard engine caught fire shortly after take-off and the decision was made to return to Boise.
On 16 February 2000, DC-8-71F N8079U crashed on take-off on a scheduled cargo flight from Sacramento Mather Airport to Dayton, Ohio, with three crew members aboard. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and post-crash fire; there were no survivors. This was the crash that resulted in Emery's fleet being grounded for good.
On 26 April 2001, an Emery Worldwide DC-8-71, N8076U, landed with a left main landing up at Nashville International Airport in Nashville, Tennessee. The aircraft sustained minor damage and the three-member crew was not injured. Post accident investigation found improper maintenance to the left main gear was at fault.