At least seven people were killed Tuesday after a cargo plane crashed near Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) in Louisville, Kentucky, said Gov. Andy Beshear.

"The news out of Louisville is tough tonight as the death toll has now reached at least 7, with that number expected to rise," Beshear said on the US social media company X?s platform.

Earlier, Beshear said 11 injured people were transported to local hospitals.

His remarks came after the United Parcel Service (UPS) said one of their aircraft was involved in a crash Tuesday, prompting the temporary closure of the airfield.

Beshear said there was "no specifically hazardous cargo" on board the plane that would create an environmental issue for those around the site, "but the impact and where it impacted could create those types of situations."

He added that there are two missing employees.

The airport said all arriving and departing flights are temporarily suspended and the airfield is closed.

"We are also asking the public if they were to find any debris in the area to please avoid touching this debris," said the airport?s public information officer.

Earlier, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said UPS flight 2976 crashed around 5.15 pm local time (2215GMT) after departing from the airport in Kentucky to Honolulu, Hawaii.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is in charge of the probe into the crash and will be the primary source of information about the official investigation.

Greenberg said the fire from the crash is still burning and there are many road closures in the area.

NTSB investigative team scheduled to arrive in Kentucky on Wednesday

Citing the fire chief, Beshear said the plane was carrying about 38,000 gallons of fuel.

He said he is not going to speculate about the cause.

"That's for the NTSB to determine, and (we) do not want to interfere in that in any way," he added.

The Louisville Metro Police Department urged people to continue to shelter in place and avoid contact with smoke from the incident near the airport.

A Victim Family Reunification Center was set up at the Louisville Metro Police Training Academy at 2911 Taylor Blvd.

The NTSB said it is launching a ?go-team? to investigate Tuesday?s crash of the UPS MD-11 cargo aircraft.

"NTSB Board Member Todd Inman will serve as the on-scene spokesperson. The investigative team is scheduled to arrive in Kentucky tomorrow," it said, adding a media briefing will be held on Wednesday.

(Anadolu Agency)

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