A UPS cargo jet went down shortly after takeoff from the Louisville airport, officials say

A UPS cargo plane has crashed near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky, according to local authorities. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has confirmed that UPS Flight 2976, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11, went down shortly after takeoff on Tuesday evening.

The FAA said the incident occurred around 5:15pm local time, as the aircraft was departing Louisville en route to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu. The cause of the crash has not yet been determined.

The Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) said officers and multiple emergency agencies responded to the site near Fern Valley Road and Grade Lane. "Injuries reported," the department said. UPS said the aircraft had three crewmembers on board.

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Footage shared online showed a large plume of smoke rising from the area. Officials described it as an "active scene with fire and debris," urging the public to stay away from the crash site.

A shelter-in-place order was issued for all locations within a five-mile radius of the airport, according to LENSAlert emergency notifications. "Please remain away from the area until further notice," it stated.

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Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport is one of the busiest cargo hubs in the US and the central facility for UPS's Worldport global shipping operation.

Authorities have not released information about the fate of the crew or potential fatalities on the ground.

(RT.com)