A UPS plane with three crew members aboard crashed as it was taking off late Tuesday afternoon in Louisville, Kentucky, officials said.
UPS Flight 2976 crashed around 5:15 p.m. local time after departing Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, the Federal Aviation Administration said.
“At this time, we have not confirmed any injuries/casualties,” UPS said in a statement.
A spokesperson for Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said injuries had been reported.
“It crashed on takeoff. Multiple injuries,” the spokesperson, Allison Martin, said in a message.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear asked for prayers for the plane’s pilots and crew. “The situation is serious. Please pray for the families affected. I’m headed to Louisville now,” he said on X.
The plane, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11, was headed to Honolulu, the FAA said.
Video from the scene showed a fire and black smoke rising from an area appearing to be near the tarmac.
Greenberg said in a phone interview with NBC affiliate WAVE of Louisville that the plane’s fuel load was causing the fire on the ground.
“All of our emergency resources are on the scene right now,” he said.
UPS has a large presence in Louisville. UPS Air Operations is headquartered in the city, where it also has its main hub.
UPS began its overnight air service with its main hub at the airport, known by the letters SDF, in 1982.
UPS is the biggest employer in the Louisville area, with around 25,000 people working for the company there. There are around 400 flights arriving and departing each day at its hub, the city says on its website.
The FAA said it would investigate, along with the National Transportation Safety Board.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
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