UPS plane explodes while taking off from Louisville's airport, killing at least 3 people

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A UPS plane caught fire and exploded as it took off Tuesday evening from Louisville's airport, killing at least three people and injuring at least 11 more.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said UPS Flight 2976 from the Louisville Muhammad Ali International to Honolulu had a "catastrophic crash" around 5:15 p.m. Two businesses just south of the airport, Kentucky Petroleum Recycling and Grade A Auto Parts, were impacted by the plane and its debris. Grade A Auto Parts has accounted for all its employees except for two, though there may have been many other customers inside at the time.

Beshear said he expects the death and injury toll to grow.

"It may be some time until we can account for everyone," he said.

UofL Health said four of its area hospital treated 10 patients Tuesday, all but two of which are expected to survive. Those two are in critical condition in the Burn Unit at UofL Hospital downtown.

Video, which you can watch above, shows the plane attempting to take off southbound from the airport with a fire burning off the left wing. Shortly thereafter, it explodes. Beshear said the plane was carrying 38,000 gallons of fuel, and the impact to several of the businesses in the path could create an environmental issue.

"If there is a shelter-in-place, please follow it," he said.

As of 9 p.m. that shelter-in-place remains in place for everything within 1 mile of the airport. Earlier in the day, the radius extended between Outer Loop and the Ohio River, covering a large portion of the city. A separate shelter-in-place is active in Jeffersonville, Indiana, from 10th Street to the Ohio River and east along the river to the Port of Indiana.

Jefferson County Public Schools canceled school for Wednesday "due to the necessary shelter-in-place order." All extracurricular activities and athletics are also canceled.

Fire Chief Brian O'Neill said every building in the area is being searched by emergency responders, looking for survivors trapped in the rubble.

"This will be an ongoing active scene for the next several days," LMPD Chief Paul Humphrey said. "We don't know how long it's going to take to render that scene safe."

Louisville is home to UPS' largest package handling facility, a hub that employs thousands of workers, has 300 daily flights and sorts more than 400,000 packages an hour. A UPS spokesperson said operations at Worldport were halted Tuesday night, and Next Day Air sort is canceled. Employees should not report to work Tuesday night.

"We are terribly saddened by the accident tonight in Louisville," spokesperson Jim Mayer said in a written statement. "Our heartfelt thoughts are with everyone involved. 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."

The Federal Aviation Administration said the National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation and provide all updates, and UPS said it's already working with both agencies on the ground.

"We are engaged with the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation of the accident and are staying in close contact with the Federal Aviation Administration." Mayer said. "We will work tirelessly with state and local authorities on response efforts."

Louisville Metro Police said its training academy at 2911 Taylor Blvd. will be used for "victim reunification." Chaplains, the police Victim Services Unit and the American Red Cross will be there.

IMAGES | UPS plane explosion sparks massive plume of smoke across Louisville area

TARC said just after 7 p.m. Monday that all TARC services would be suspended for the rest of the evening. TARC3, a spokesperson said, is working with current passengers with destinations outside the shelter-in-place, all evening pickups for TARC3 have also been suspended.

In a statement on social media, SDF said "all arriving and departing flights at SDF are temporarily suspended and the airfield is closed. Passengers should closely monitor their flight status via their airline's website or mobile app."

In a news release around 6:30 p.m., airport officials said screening at the TSA security checkpoint is temporarily suspended.

Airport officials will join Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg for a news conference at 9 p.m. at the Louisville Regional Airport Authority Administration building. That news conference will be streamed live here.

The plane crash is impacting some traffic in Louisville, according to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.

The agency said the Interstate 65 North and South on- and off-ramps to and from Fern Valley Road are closed by law enforcement. The Outer Loop is closed from Grade Lane to the Outer Loop/I-65 interchange. There are no impacts to the mainline I-65 or Interstate 264 (Watterson Expressway).

Officials and authorities released the following statements after the crash:

Congressman Morgan McGarvey

"Congressman Morgan McGarvey issued the following statement after horrific reports that a UPS flight crashed during takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on Tuesday evening. Tonight, our community was rocked by a devastating plane crash at the Louisville airport.

My heart breaks for the pilots, crew, and their families, and I'm praying for everyone impacted. I'm grateful for the bravery of our first responders as they continue their work throughout the night tonight to respond quickly and heroically to this horrific incident.

We still do not have complete details on how this tragedy occurred, but I've spoken with the Chair of National Transportation Safety Board and will continue to stay in contact with state, local, and federal authorities to get answers and do what we can to help all those affected.”

Mayor Craig Greenberg

"Please join Rachel and me in praying for the crew of UPS flight 2976. This is an incredible tragedy that our community will never forget. 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."

Senator Mitch McConnell

"My team and I are closely monitoring developments around the Louisville airport and are in touch with local, state, and federal authorities. Thank you to the first responders on the scene. I encourage everyone in the area to follow emergency and law enforcement guidance."

UPS Teamsters

"Amid breaking news tonight of a UPS plane crash at the Worldport facility in Louisville, the Teamsters Union is monitoring this developing tragic event on the ground. As this horrific scene is being investigated, prayers on behalf of our entire International Union are with those killed, injured, and affected, including their families, co-workers, and loved ones. The Teamsters will provide additional details as they become available."

Stooges Bar and Grill

"We were able to evacuate in time, and everyone made it out safely. Please offer prayers for Stooges to not get hit. Prayers for the pilots and their families, and all the first responders."

This story will be updated.

Pizza Hut's future in question as Louisville-based Yum! Brands launches strategic review

'Not sustainable' | Food pantries in Kentucky, Indiana overwhelmed as SNAP benefits stall

Brooks Houck transferred to prison in eastern Kentucky