LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A UPS cargo plane crashed Tuesday at the Louisville, Kentucky airport where the company operates its largest package delivery hub, known as Worldport.
This major facility at Muhammad Ali International Airport employs around 20,000 individuals, making UPS the largest employer in the local area. Each day, Worldport processes approximately 2 million packages, with the capability to manage up to 416,000 packages and documents per hour within its sprawling complex, which is comparable to the size of ten football fields.
Geographically, Louisville's strategic location allows it to serve 95% of the U.S. population within four hours of flight time, as it facilitates shipping to over 200 countries globally.
Expansion Efforts
In 2022, UPS announced plans for a new aircraft hangar in Louisville that would accommodate two 747s and eight flight simulators. This expansion is set to enhance UPS Healthcare's capabilities, which include logistics for clinical trials and shipments essential for medical care.
Operational Scale
On a daily basis, more than 300 flights arrive at and depart from Worldport, where the center can house 125 aircraft. UPS operates six different types of planes, including the model involved in the recent crash, the MD-11, alongside several Boeing jets and Airbus models.
Pivotal to UPS’s operations, the company received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to operate its aircraft back in 1988. Founded in Seattle in 1907, UPS now employs roughly 490,000 individuals globally and is officially headquartered in Atlanta.
