A cargo plane operated by UPS Airlines crashed shortly after takeoff Tuesday evening from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky, igniting a fireball and killing at least seven people while injuring 11 others, officials said.

The aircraft, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 freighter, departed for Honolulu from the airport’s UPS Worldport hub. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the crash occurred around 5:15 p.m. local time and involved flames visible on the left wing prior to impact.

Governor Andy Beshear said several of the injured have “very significant” injuries and confirmed that some of the fatalities occurred on the ground, not all onboard the aircraft.

The crash sparked major disruption: airport operations were halted, and a shelter-in-place order was issued in a sizeable radius around the airport. Debris and fire from the crash site affected nearby businesses and industrial properties adjacent to the runway.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has dispatched investigators to the site and will lead the official inquiry into what caused the plane to lose control shortly after takeoff. Early indications point to engine trouble and possible structural separation.

UPS said it is “terribly saddened” by the accident and that its global cargo operations based at Louisville Worldport may be affected in the short term. The company has activated its contingency plans for sorting and delivery disruptions.

Local leaders described the scene as chaotic and devastating. Mayor Craig Greenberg said the crash has forever changed the community and emphasized support for first responders, families of victims, and workers at the UPS hub, which is a major employer in the region.