UPS Cargo Plane Crash Disrupts Shipping Operations in Louisville
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A UPS cargo plane crashed shortly after takeoff from the company’s Worldport facility at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on Tuesday evening, resulting in at least 12 fatalities, according to authorities.
In the wake of this incident, UPS reported that short-term disruptions to its shipping network are expected. The company is implementing backup plans to maintain delivery operations, though supply chain experts believe these issues will be resolved ahead of the upcoming holiday season.
Sorting operations at Worldport, which can process approximately 416,000 packages per hour, were suspended Tuesday night and remain halted. UPS has not disclosed the types or number of packages that were aboard the plane. Typically, flights out of Louisville carry between 10,000 and 13,000 packages.
Tom Goldsby, a supply chain management professor at the University of Tennessee, noted that UPS may increase flights through regional hubs to mitigate disruptions. “Those regional hubs will take on a greater burden until Louisville returns to full capacity,” he said.
UPS stated it is activating contingency plans to expedite shipments as conditions allow. However, the company has not provided specific details on these plans.
Goldsby indicated that there is significant pressure on UPS to minimize disruptions. He emphasized the importance of resolving the current crisis promptly, especially with the holiday rush approaching.
As operations are being restructured, UPS is shifting its focus from Amazon deliveries to business-to-business shipping and has cut 48,000 jobs this year.
For more updates, visit UPS tracking online.