At least seven people were killed when a UPS cargo plane crashed in Kentucky

Seven people were killed when a UPS cargo plane crashed on takeoff from an airport in Louisville, Kentucky on Tuesday night, the state’s governor said.

At least 11 other people were injured when the cargo plane exploded on takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport around 5:15 p.m. local time (22:15 GMT), sending thick plumes of black smoke into the sky.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Bescher said the plane’s three crew members were likely among the dead, adding that “Anyone who has seen the images and the video knows how brutal this crash was.”

Officials warned that people suffered “very serious” injuries in the incident and the death toll could rise.

UPS Flight 2976, bound for Honolulu, Hawaii, was carrying 38,000 gallons (144,000 liters) of fuel when it skidded off the runway in Louisville and crashed into nearby buildings.

The blast engulfed at least two nearby businesses, including an oil recycling company. A shelter-in-place order was initially issued within five miles of the airport due to fears of further explosions and air pollution, but was later reduced to just one mile.

All departing flights for Tuesday evening have been cancelled, X’s airport said in a statement.

Louisville Fire Chief Brian O’Neill said the fire is almost fully contained, with crews still at the scene.

“When you have such a large-scale incident and a fire that spreads over such a massive area, we have to use hundreds of personnel to surround it, contain it and then slowly bring it in,” O’Neill said.

He added: “These are trained firefighters from across the region who are out there looking, grid by grid, very carefully to make sure we can find other victims.”

At a news conference, Bescher warned people not to go to the crash site, saying “there are still dangerous things that are flammable, that are potentially explosive.”

Bescher said he would not “speculate” on what caused the accident, adding that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) would lead the investigation.

The NTSB investigative team is scheduled to arrive in Kentucky on Wednesday.

Louisville Metro Police Chief Paul Humphrey said the crash scene will be a “continuing active scene for the next several days.”

He added: “We don’t know how long it will take to make this scene safe for the investigation to take place.”

The aircraft was an MD-11F, a three-engine aircraft that began operating 34 years ago with Thai Airways as a passenger aircraft but was transferred to UPS in 2006.

The MD-11F was originally manufactured by McDonnell Douglas, which merged with Boeing in 1997.

MD-11s are just over 61 meters long and have a wingspan of 52 meters, smaller than the Boeing 747, which is approximately 76 meters long and has a wingspan of 68 meters.

In 2023, FedEx and UPS announced plans to begin retiring their MD-11 fleets over the next decade as part of their fleet modernization plans.

In a statement, Boeing said it was “ready to support our customer” and that “our concern is for the safety and well-being of all affected.”

He added that he would offer technical assistance to the NTSB.

Louisville is home to UPS Worldport, a global hub for the shipping company’s air cargo operations and its largest package handling facility in the world.

During the press conference, Louisville Metro Council member Betsy Rue said the city is a “UPS town” and that every resident will know someone who works for the company.

“They’re all texting their friends, their family, trying to make sure everyone’s safe,” she said.

In a statement, UPS said it was “terribly saddened” by the incident and would suspend package sorting operations at Worldport on Tuesday evening.

It added, “UPS is committed to the safety of our employees and customers and the communities we serve. This is especially true in Louisville, home to our airline and thousands of UPS customers.”

State Sen. Keturah Herron said, “Many of us regularly watch our family members and loved ones pass through (Louisville Airport).”

In a post on X, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said the plane crash was “an incredible tragedy that our community will never forget.”

He added: “We are so grateful to our brave first responders who flooded the scene to help try to bring the fire under control and provide support to all victims on the scene.”