A UPS cargo plane crashed Tuesday evening at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, causing a tragic loss of life. The accident happened around 5:15 p.m. when “a UPS MD-11 aircraft suffered a catastrophic failure during takeoff en route to Honolulu.”

Witnesses said the plane “struggled to gain altitude before crashing near the runway,” which led to fires and damage to nearby buildings. Emergency crews arrived quickly, but efforts soon shifted from rescue to recovery.

Authorities confirmed that all three crew members died, along with several people on the ground. Officials also reported that “several people still unaccounted for,” meaning the number of victims could rise.

In response to the disaster, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency to support rescue and recovery operations.

Investigations are now underway. The NTSB and FAA are examining the crash, and “the aircraft’s black boxes recovered for analysis” may help determine the cause. Meanwhile, airport operations remain partially affected as authorities continue their work.