(NEXSTAR) – A UPS plane crashed in Louisville, Kentucky shortly after takeoff Tuesday evening, causing an extensive fire, officials confirmed.
The crash happened around 5:15 p.m., shortly after UPS Flight 2976 took off from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, an FAA spokesperson told Nexstar. Photos from the scene showed towering flames and a cloud of black smoke extending skyward.
The aircraft was bound for Honolulu with three crewmembers on board, UPS confirmed.
The Louisville Metro Police Dept. announced that a shelter-in-place was issued for “all locations within 5 miles of the airport” after reports of the plane crash.
Police added that there were “injuries reported,” however, as of 6:40 p.m. local time, authorities had not given any official confirmation.
“This is an active scene with fire and debris,” the department said on X. “Stay away.”
Aerial video shot by local news station WLKY showed a large swath of buildings ablaze, with lights from emergency vehicles stretching for blocks.
“The situation is serious. Please pray for the families affected,” Gov. Andy Beshear said in a statement. “I’m headed to Louisville now.”
It’s not yet clear what caused the plane, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11, to crash.
the FAA and NTSB will continue to investigate.
This is a developing story.
