WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — At least seven people died and several more were injured after a UPS cargo plane crashed shortly after takeoff on Tuesday from Louisville International Airport in Kentucky, exploding into flames as it crashed into businesses adjacent to the airport.

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 departing for Hawaii crashed at around 5:15 p.m. local time.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear told a press briefing that he expected the number of dead and injured was going to rise.

“First responders are onsite and working hard to extinguish the fire and continue the investigation,” he posted in a Tuesday night update on X.

UPS said in a statement that three crew members were on board the aircraft, adding that “we have not confirmed any injuries/casualties.”

Beshear said the status of the three crew members was unknown and said that he was “very concerned” for them.

The cause of the crash was under investigation by the FAA and the US National Transportation Safety Board.

Video shared by local broadcaster WLKY appears to show the aircraft’s left engine on fire as it tried to lift off.

Officials at the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport announced that all flights scheduled for departure on Tuesday evening had been canceled and UPS said it had halted package sorting operations.