A UPS cargo plane crashed Tuesday afternoon shortly after taking off from Muhammad Ali International Airport in Louisville, Kentucky, causing a massive fire on the ground and a large mobilization of emergency services.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that the accident occurred around 5:15 pm, when the aircraft was headed to Honolulu, Hawaii According to the Louisville Metropolitan Police Department, injuries were reported, although no details have been released regarding the number or severity of the victims. Images circulating on social media showed a thick column of black smoke rising from the vicinity of the airport, visible for several kilometers. The accident occurred at the intersection of Fern Valley Road and Grade Lane, at the southern end of the airport. Police reported via the X network that the impact caused a fire and scattered debris, and asked the public to avoid the area. Additionally, a shelter-in-place order was issued within a 5-mile radius of the airport. Videos shared by local media showed firefighters attempting to extinguish the flames in what appeared to be a parking lot or cargo area, while a large trail of fire continued to burn. The FAA and Kentucky Governor Confirm Emergency. The FAA identified the aircraft as a 1991 McDonnell Douglas MD-11, owned by United Parcel Service (UPS). Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear confirmed that emergency services were on the scene and asked for prayers for the victims. “Emergency services are already on the scene and we will share more information as soon as it becomes available,” he wrote on X. “Please pray for the pilots, crew, and all those affected.” A few minutes later, the governor shared another message: “The situation is serious. Please pray for the affected families. I'm on my way to Louisville now.”

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the causes of the accident.