By Emma Tucker and Pete Muntean, CNN
A cargo plane has crashed near the airport in Louisville, in the US state of Kentucky, according to preliminary information.
UPS Flight 2976 crashed just after 5pm (local time) and was headed to Daniel K Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, according to a statement from the US's Federal Aviation Administration, which is investigating the crash along with the National Transportation Safety Board.
Three crew members were on the plane, according to a statement from UPS that said in part: "At this time, we have not confirmed any injuries/casualties."
Louisville Metro Police Department and other agencies are responding to the reported plane crash, LMPD said in an X post. Injuries have been reported, police said.
An image from the scene of the crash. Photo: WLKY via CNN Newsource
A massive plume of black smoke rising not far from the tarmac at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, videos from CNN affiliate WAVE show.
Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport is the worldwide air hub for UPS. The company's Worldport is more than five million square feet where more than 12,000 UPS employees process more than two million packages a day, according to the company.
A shelter-in-place has been issued for all locations within five miles of the airport, police added.
"LMPD and multiple other agencies are responding to reports of a plan crash near Fern Valley and Grade Lane," the post said. "Grade lane will be closed indefinitely between Stooges and Crittenden."
A plume of black smoke from the crash. Photo: WLKY via CNN Newsource
The McDonnell Douglas MD-11F is a freight transport aircraft manufactured originally by McDonnell Douglas and later by Boeing. The aircraft is primarily flown by FedEx Express, Lufthansa Cargo and UPS Airlines for cargo.
The McDonnell Douglass MD-11 served as a popular wide-bodied passenger airplane after it was first flown in 1990.
As fuel costs increased for the three engine jets many of them were converted to freighters. The plane can take off weighing in at a maximum 633,000 pounds (287,000kg) and carrying more than 38,000 gallons (144,000 litres) of fuel, according to Boeing, which bought McDonnell Douglass.
- CNN
