A UPS cargo plane erupted in flames while attempting takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on Tuesday evening, killing at least seven people and injuring at least 11 others on the ground, as the massive explosion from the aircraft's fuel load engulfed two nearby businesses and prompted a shelter-in-place order amid fears of further blasts.

The MD-11F freighter, carrying three crew members and 38,000 gallons of fuel for a 4,300-mile flight to Hawaii, departed the runway around 5:15 p.m. local time (10:15 p.m. GMT) before striking an auto shop and petroleum recycler, according to the FAA and NTSB.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear confirmed the crew was among the dead, with two workers from the struck businesses still missing and injuries described as "very significant." No cargo posed contamination risks, officials said.

Emergency responders arrived within minutes, battling the blaze that billowed thick black smoke visible for miles and scattered debris across the airport perimeter. Louisville Fire Chief Brian O'Neal called the fuel spill "very dangerous," issuing a five-mile shelter-in-place alert – later reduced to one mile – as firefighters contained the fire.

All evening departures were canceled, with no flights resuming until Wednesday morning.Beshear, surveying the site, described it as an "incredible tragedy" Louisville "will never forget," praising first responders' "brave" efforts. Mayor Craig Greenberg echoed the sentiment: "The devastation is hard to comprehend."

UPS expressed sorrow, confirming three crew members aboard and halting operations at its Worldport hub, the company's largest air cargo facility. "We are terribly saddened and are committed to the safety of our employees and communities," the firm said.

The NTSB, leading the probe, will arrive Wednesday, with Boeing offering technical support for the 34-year-old MD-11F, a passenger jet converted for cargo in 2006. FedEx and UPS plan to phase out the model by 2035.