At least seven people were killed and 11 others injured after a wide-body cargo airplane belonging to shipping company UPS crashed shortly after takeoff from the international airport in Louisville, Kentucky, on Wednesday.
According to Reuters news agency, the plane was en route to Honolulu, Hawaii, when its wing caught fire before it came down crashing on the runway just minutes after takeoff, leaving a fiery trail of destruction and a massive plume of thick black smoke that stretched for miles.
The Federal Aviation Administration also confirmed the incident in the early hours of Wednesday, stating that “UPS Flight 2976 crashed around 5:15 p.m. local time on Tuesday, November 4, after departing from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky””
Louisville officials said that three crew members aboard the plane and four others on the ground were among the deceased.
The 11 people who were injured were also on the ground.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear also confirmed the death toll, adding that the number could increase due to some of the survivors suffering “very significant” injuries.
Meanwhile, UPS issued a statement, saying the company is saddened by the incident and is committed to the safety of its staff and employees.
“We are terribly saddened by the accident tonight in Louisville. Our heartfelt thoughts are with everyone involved,” the company said. “UPS is committed to the safety of our employees, our customers, and the communities we serve. This is particularly true in Louisville, home to our airline and thousands of UPSers.”