At least 7 dead, 11 injured in UPS plane crash and explosion at Kentucky airport

"LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- A UPS cargo plane crashed and exploded in a massive fireball Tuesday while taking off from the company's global aviation hub in Louisville, Kentucky, killing at least seven people and injuring 11, authorities said. The plane crashed about 5:15 p.m. as it was departing for Honolulu from UPS Worldport at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport. Video showed flames on the plane's left wing and a trail of smoke."

"Video also revealed portions of a building's shredded roof next to the end of the runway. Among the 11 who were hurt, some had "very significant" injuries, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said. "Anybody who has seen the images, the video, knows how violent this crash is," he said. Beshear said he didn't know the status of the three crew members aboard the plane, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 made in 1991."

"UPS's largest package handling facility is in Louisville. The hub employs thousands of workers, has 300 daily flights and sorts more than 400,000 packages an hour. "We all know somebody who works at UPS," Louisville Metro Council member Betsy Ruhe said. "And they're all texting their friends, their family, trying to make sure everyone is safe. Sadly, some of those texts are probably going to go unanswered. My heart goes out to those families and those friends.""

An MD-11 UPS cargo plane departing Louisville for Honolulu crashed and exploded during takeoff around 5:15 p.m., killing at least seven people and injuring 11. Video showed flames on the left wing, smoke, and the aircraft briefly lifting before crashing into a massive fireball, with debris and a shredded roof near the runway. Some injured sustained very significant injuries. The crash affected nearby businesses and facilities at UPS Worldport, the company's largest hub that employs thousands, runs 300 daily flights and sorts over 400,000 packages an hour. The NTSB will investigate while the airport remained closed as authorities worked to render the scene safe.

Read at ABC7 Los Angeles