US cargo plane crashes immediately after takeoff (VIDEOS)

A cargo plane exploded immediately after taking off from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in the US state of Kentucky, resulting in at least seven fatalities and 11 injured, local officials said, as the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) launched an investigation.

The FAA confirmed that UPS Flight 2976 – a McDonnell Douglas MD‑11 freighter operated by UPS Airlines – crashed at around 5:15pm local time on Tuesday shortly after departing for Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu.

Footage from the scene showed a fiery wreck near the end of the runway. A plume of black smoke rose high above the crash site, and flames were seen consuming nearby industrial buildings. “This is an active scene with fire and debris. Stay away,” the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) said.

A shelter‑in‑place order was issued for all locations within a five‑mile radius of the airport, which suspended all operations.

UPS confirmed that three crewmembers were on board the aircraft at the time of the crash. While early reports did not immediately confirm their status, officials later said at least three people were killed and 11 were injured, and indicated that the number of casualties may rise.

READ MORE: Horrifying UPS cargo plane crash caught on VIDEO

Flight‑tracking data showed the MD‑11 reached an altitude of approximately 175 feet and a speed of 184 knots before descending rapidly and crashing.

The crash occurred near UPS’s global air‑cargo hub in Louisville, the company’s largest package‑handling facility. The incident is expected to cause significant disruptions to the company’s operations, which handle more than two million packages daily.

Boeing, which acquired McDonnell Douglas in 1997, said it was concerned for the safety and well‑being of all affected and will provide technical support to the investigation.