At least three people were killed and 11 were injured after a horror plane crash at a major international airport in America.
Plumes of smoke could be seen billowing from the scene as an inferno continued to burn after a UPS MD-11 cargo plane crashed at Muhammad Ali International Airport in Louisville, Kentucky.
The delivery company confirmed the accident happened at around 5.15pm local time, and said three crew members were on board.
Later, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said: "We believe we have at least three fatalities. I believe that number is going to get larger."
The Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) said it was responding to the incident and injuries had been reported.
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The UPS Flight 2976 had just started its journey towards Daniel K Inouye International Airport in Honolulu when it crashed, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) when it crashed.
The FAA has said it will investigate the incident alongside the National Transportation Safety Board, which will lead enquiries.
A "shelter in place" order initially ordered for those within a five-mile radius of the airport was later extended to include all areas north of the airport to the Ohio River.
The LMPD described the scene as active with "fire and debris" - and warned locals to avoid Fern Valley and Grade Lane, a nearby intersection.
Emergency services arrived on the scene in a bid to put out the inferno
|WLKY
Footage online appears to show one of the plane's engines on fire as it takes off from the runway.
According to preliminary data from FlightRadar24, the aircraft reached just 175 feet in altitude before descending.
Louisville airport confirmed that its airfield was shut down, and all arriving and departing flights have been temporarily suspended.
The airport is home to UPS Worldport, which serves as a global hub for the firm's cargo operations and its largest package handling facility in the world, with more than 12,000 employees processing more than two million packages every day.
Large plumes of smoke could be seen billowing from the site of the crash
|GETTY
Footage from the scene showed damage to warehouses and nearby cars on fire, with huge streaks of flames raging across car parks after the crash.
Describing the incident as "an incredible tragedy which that our community will never forget", Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said: "Please join [my wife] Rachel and I in praying for the crew of UPS flight 2976.
"We are so thankful for our brave first responders who have flooded the scene to help try and control the fire and provide support for any victims on the ground."
Footage online appears to show one of the plane's engines on fire as it takes off from the runway
|X
The Mayor had previously confirmed that the plane was carrying around 280,000 gallons (1,060,000 litres) of fuel.
Governor Beshear earlier said en route to the scene: "Please pray for the pilots, crew and everyone affected."
Kentucky Senator Rand Paul said: "My team and I are closely monitoring the plane crash near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport.
"We continue to pray for the safety of the aircrew, everyone in the area, and for the first responders on the scene."
The McDonnell Douglas MD-11F is now primarily used by FedEx Express, Lufthansa Cargo and UPS Airlines for cargo, but served as a popular wide-bodied passenger plane when it was first flown in 1990.
This particular aircraft was first used by Thai Airways in 1991 before being transferred to UPS in 2006.
It measured just over 61 metres long and had a wingspan of 52 metres.
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