A large UPS cargo plane crashed and exploded Tuesday while taking off from an airport in Louisville, Kentucky, leaving at least three people dead and 11 injured.
Those numbers are expected to grow, the governor said. The plane crashed about 5:15 p.m. as it was departing for Honolulu from Louisville’s Muhammad Ali International Airport, the Federal Aviation Administration said.
“We’re asking all Kentuckians to pray for those that have been impacted,” Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear told The Associated Press.
A shelter-in-place order has been issued for all locations within 5 miles of the airport and asks the public to avoid the area until further notice, Louisville Metro Emergency Services said.
Mayor Craig Greenberg told WLKY-TV that fuel on the plane was an “extreme reason for concern in so many different ways.”
Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport announced on social media at 5:36 p.m. local time that the airfield was closed after “an aircraft incident.”
Injuries have been reported, the Louisville Metro Police Department said in a social media post.
UPS has a large presence in Louisville. UPS Air Operations is headquartered in the city, where it also has its main hub.
The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate, the FAA said.
This is breaking news. Check back for updates.
This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.
Want more insights? Join Working Title - our career elevating newsletter and get the future of work delivered weekly.
