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A cargo plane crashed shortly after takeoff today in Louisville, Kentucky, sending a long trail of fiery debris and plumes of smoke across the US city.

The crash happened shortly before 5.30pm local time, Louisville Metro Police Department said in a statement.

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has also confirmed a UPS cargo plane crashed near the Louisville International Airport shortly after takeoff.

UPS said in a statement that three crew members were on board the aircraft, but provided no information as to any casualties or injuries.

The FAA identified the aircraft as a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 headed to Hawaii.

The Louisville metro police department said multiple emergency service agencies were responding to the crash.

“This is an active scene with fire and debris. Stay away,” Louisville police said.

Aerial footage of the crash site showed a long trail of debris as firefighters blasted water onto a conflagration, with smoke billowing from the disaster area.

A nearby building appeared to have sustained damage, possibly caused by the crash.

Last month, a cargo plane veered off the runway upon landing in Hong Kong, killing two people at the airport.

WDRB meteorologist Matthew Wine described the scene as “truly heart-breaking”.

“Plane crash confirmed in Louisville. I could hear explosions while on Fern Valley Road. You can see the smoke plume on radar,” Wine posted online.

A shelter-in-place order was issued within 8km of the airport, which is also home to UPS Worldport, the delivery firm’s largest package handling facility in the world, Sky ��һ�ǿ����� reported.

Governor of Kentucky Andy Beshear said on X authorities are aware of a plane crash near Louisville International Airport.

“First responders are onsite, and we will share more information as available,” Beshear said.

“Please pray for the pilots, crew and everyone affected. We will share more soon.”

The area of the crash was largely an industrial zone, with few if any residential homes, the Louisville Courier Journal said.

Businesses in the area, which collectively employed thousands of people, included Ford’s Louisville Assembly Plant, the UPS Flight Training Center and Worldport Freight Facility, Stooges Bar & Grill, Grade-A Auto Parts, Quantum Ink and Central Farm Supply Kentucky.

Many were open with employees on site at the time of the crash, the Courier Journal reported.

Mayor Craig Greenberg told WAVE TV he understood the plane was carrying about 280,000 gallons of fuel.

He had limited information about how the crash affected the surrounding area but was concerned, noting there may be nearby fuel tanks or other flammable materials — a factor that prompted the earlier shelter-in-place order, WAVE TV reported.

Everybody was safe at the Ford Louisville Assembly Plant off Fern Valley Road, the workplace of about 3000 people, the Courier Journal reported.

“Local 862 said the power was cut to the plant as a precaution. As of right now, production is down and workers are sheltering in the plant. The flight did not hit the Ford facility.”

“The situation is serious. Please pray for the families affected”, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear wrote on X, adding he was on his way to Louisville.

He had earlier urged people to “please pray for the pilots, crew and everyone affected”.