UPS plane explodes during takeoff at Kentucky airport, leaving massive plume of smoke and multiple injured

A massive UPS plane exploded as it took off from Kentucky Tuesday evening, leaving multiple people injured and sending a massive plume of smoke spreading across the city as fires blazed for nearly a mile.

The plane crashed around 5.15pm as it departed the airport, heading toward Daniel K Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, WLKY reports.  

Details about the collision remain unclear, but a source with knowledge of the situation told CNN it involved a UPS MD-11 plane.

Video shared to social media showed a ball of fire emanating from the center of the plane just moments after it departed the runway. 

Locals then reported a loud explosion that was heard throughout Louisville, with a MetroSafe supervisor telling WDRB the incident began with calls about an explosion, and Louisville Metro Police spokesman Matt Sanders saying the department received 20 calls for service. 

Louisville Metro Police have since announced on social media that several agencies are responding to the scene south of Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, as residents shared photos of smoke filling the sky.

Authorities said it remains an active scene with ‘smoke and debris,’ as they issued a shelter-in-place order for a five mile radius around the airport, which was later expanded north of the airport.

‘Please remain away from the area until further notice,’ the police department urged. 

 This is a breaking news story and will be updated.