LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A significant incident unfolded Tuesday when a UPS cargo plane, with a crew of three, crashed during takeoff from a Louisville airport. The crash triggered an explosion and a massive fire, casting a dense black smoke cloud over the vicinity.

The mishap occurred around 5:15 p.m. as the aircraft was departing for Honolulu from Louisville’s Muhammad Ali International Airport, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

The Louisville Metro Police Department confirmed reports of injuries through a social media update.

Mayor Craig Greenberg expressed grave concerns to WLKY-TV, noting, “My understanding is that there were about 280,000 gallons of fuel on the plane, presenting numerous safety challenges.”

Louisville houses UPS’s largest package handling facility, which employs thousands and operates 300 flights daily, sorting over 400,000 packages per hour.

The McDonnell Douglas MD-11 airplane owned by UPS was manufactured in 1991.

A shelter-in-place order was extended to all areas north of the airport to the Ohio River.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said in a post on X that information would be shared as it was available.

“Please pray for the pilots, crew and everyone affected,” Beshear said.