Fires are still burning after a UPS cargo plane crashed during takeoff at Louisville International Airport in Kentucky
Seven deaths have been confirmed so far but local officials expect that number to grow
At least 11 people are being treated for injuries and others are missing - people living nearby have been told to seek shelter
The aircraft was carrying around 38,000 gallons of fuel when it exploded, with flames engulfing nearby businesses
UPS says three crew members were on board - all are still unaccounted for
Flight 2976, which was bound for Hawaii, crashed at around 17:15 local time, the US Federal Aviation Administration says
Smoke hangs over Louisville after deadly plane crash
Flames and enormous plumes of smoke can be seen rising from Louisville International Airport following the crash.
Authorities say the fire is still burning, and emergency first responders have been battling to control the blaze. The public is being warned not to go near the site.
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Reuters
Image source, Getty ImagesKentucky Governor Andy Beshear warns people not to go to the site of the crash.
"There may be people that still need to be rescued. Do not be the reason that the first responders cannot get to them," he says.
"There are still dangerous things that are flammable, that are potentially explosive."
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear is describing a "catastrophic crash" at Louisville International airport, and says it is an "all hands on deck response".
He says that the plane was not carrying any specifically hazardous cargo onboard that would create an environmental issue for people around the site, but said the impact of the crash could create those scenes.
The crash site includes a petroleum recycling business. This is obviously a worry, as petroleum is a highly flammable liquid. It also included an auto-parts business.
He warns nearby Louisville residents to keep sheltering in place.
Watch: Kentucky governor expects plane crash deaths to increase
Authorities are briefing the press and public on the crash now.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear says that he believes there are at least three fatalities in the plane crash.
A further 11 people have been injured, he says, adding that some of the injuries are "very significant".
He says: "I think that that number will get larger."
Later, Beshear says: "We do not at the moment have the status of the crew. Watching that video, I think we're all very, very worried about them."
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg and Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear are preparing to hold a briefing on the crash shortly. We will bring you the latest developments from that briefing as they happen.
Peter Bowes
North America correspondent
If you're just joining us, a cargo plane has crashed in the US state of Kentucky, shortly after departing from Louisville International Airport.
Officials say the plane, operated by United Parcel Services, with three crew members onboard, crashed on takeoff from the airport in Louisville.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 was heading for Honolulu. Images posted on social media show a plume of black smoke rising into the sky as a huge fire burns on the ground.
A shelter-in-place order within 8 kilometers (five miles) of the airport has been issued by the local police. The authorities say multiple people have been injured and that first responders are on the scene.
Firefighters have been seen tackling a large fire at Louisville airport after the UPS plane crashed there on Tuesday evening.
Stay with us as we bring you the latest updates.
Image source, CBS
Image source, @augiewoo via XLouisville airport, officially the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, confirms that all flights have been temporarily halted.
In a post on X it says, "At this time, all arriving and departing flights at SDF are temporarily suspended and the airfield is closed.
"Passengers should closely monitor their flight status via their airline’s website or mobile app. All additional updates will be shared to this official account as available."
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg says in a social media post that the plane crash is an "incredible tragedy that our community will never forget".
He adds: "We are so thankful for our brave first responders who have flooded the scene to help try and control the fire and provide support for any victims on the ground."
As we just reported, UPS planned to phase out its fleet of MD-11s over the next decade.
MD-11s are just over 61 metres long and have a wingspan of 52 metres.
For comparison, a Boeing 747 is roughly 76 metres long and has a wingspan of 68 metres
The crashed aircraft was 34 years old. It began service with Thai Airways in 1991 but was transferred to UPS in 2006.
The aircraft that crashed was a MD-11F, a large freight plane brought in during the 1990s to fill a growing need for long-haul cargo transport.
The aircraft was originally manufactured by McDonnell Douglas, which later merged with Boeing in 1997.
In 2023, FedEx and UPS both announced plans to begin retiring their fleets of MD-11s over the next decade as part of plans to modernise their fleets.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg says in a social media post that multiple injuries are confirmed from the crash, and that the fire is still burning.
He will host a briefing soon with Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, we will bring the latest from that to you as soon as it happens.
Here is Greenberg's statement: "Rachel and I are praying for victims of the UPS plane that crashed during takeoff at 5:15 p.m. We have every emergency agency responding to the scene. There are multiple injuries and the fire is still burning. There are many road closures in the area – please avoid the scene [...] We’ll have a briefing soon with Governor Beshear. We’ll provide more details as they are available."
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear asks residents to pray for the pilots, crew and others affected by the crash at Louisville airport.
In a post on X confirming the crash, he says: "Please pray for the pilots, crew and everyone affected. We will share more soon."
Video taken near the scene of the crash also shows huge plumes of smoke rising from the crash site. Watch below:
Watch: Huge plumes of smoke seen from highway after plane crash
There were three crew on board UPS Flight 2976, according to a statement from UPS.
The company adds that it has not yet confirmed any injuries or casualties.
We're getting video now of firefighters tackling a large blaze and plumes of smoke billowing into the air near Louisville International Airport. Watch below:
Watch: Aerial view of Louisville airport as firefighters tackle blaze
UPS Flight 2976 was a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 aircraft, travelling from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport bound for Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, Hawaii, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has told the BBC.
The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation and will provide all updates.
Police say a shelter in place order has been issued for a 5-mile radius of the airport.
The US Federal Aviation Administration confirms UPS Flight 2976 crashed at around 17:15 local time (22:15 GMT) after departing Louisville International Airport.
The flight was bound for Honolulu, Hawaii, according to several flight monitoring sites.
UPS has been notified of an incident involving one of its aircraft at Louisville International Airport, it says in a post on X.
Injuries have been reported at the scene, the Louisville Metro Police Department says.