The massive UPS air cargo hub in Louisville, Kentucky, was temporarily shut down after a fatal plane crash, causing delays package deliveries across the courier company's global network.

Worldport hub, which handles millions of packages daily for about 360 inbound and outbound flights is a critical part of UPS's hub-and-spoke model for its air freight operations.

UPS stopped operations at the hub after a cargo plane crashed at International Airport on Tuesday night, killing at least nine people, including three crew members.

On November 5, 2025, in Louisville, Kentucky, USA a yellow "X" marks the closed area at Muhammad Ali International Airport after the UPS cargo plane crash.

On Wednesday, UPS canceled the Worldport flight that handles overnight air from mid-morning to mid-afternoon.

The company has not said when it plans to resume normal operations at the 5.2 million-square-foot483,096 square meter) facility, which can handle 416,000 packages per hour.

On Tuesday, UPS said in a alert that scheduled delivery times for air and international packages could be affected.

Niall van de Wouw, chief air cargo officer at the freight pricing platform Xeneta said UPS customers would inevitably face delays and disruptions because many UPS packages pass through the Worldport hub on their way to other destinations. "Every day the hub is closed, it take several days for air freight to recover, especially now as we are heading into the peak season at year-end," he said, referring to the upcoming peak holiday air freight. He expected a limited impact on broader air freight services and freight rates.

UPS delivers and returns packages to a wide range of customers, including many U.S. and institutions, so its delays will be far-reaching. The company's top customers include the U.S. Postal Service and the Amazon website. UPS also delivers packages for and Target, manufacturers, and many small businesses. In addition, more than 150 UPS customers, including large pharmaceutical companies such as Merck, also have inventory stored the Worldport hub.

UPS customers did not immediately comment on the potential delays.

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