At Least 3 Dead, 11 Injured After UPS Plane Crashes Near Louisville Airport

5:02 PM PT — Authorities now say at least three people are dead and 11 were injured in the UPS plane crash.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear called it a “catastrophic” scene and warned the death toll is expected to rise, adding many of the victims suffered “very significant” injuries.

A UPS plane has crashed at the airport in Louisville, Kentucky … and the massive explosion created a huge fire in the area.

According to authorities … the plane crashed at about 5:15 PM local time shortly after taking off for Honolulu.

There is currently a shelter in place for the area within five miles of the airport … as police assess how many people are injured. It’s unclear if there were any casualties.

UPS said three crewmembers were on board, WLKY-TV reports.

The plane, identified as a McDonnell Douglas MD-11F, is a freight transport aircraft, according to CNN.

Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport is home to UPS’s worldwide air hub … with over two million packages a day passing through.

It’s unclear what caused the crash … but the National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA will handle the investigation.