LEXINGTON, Ky. — At least 12 people were killed and several others were injured late Tuesday afternoon after a UPS cargo plane crashed near the Louisville airport.

At around 5:20 p.m., UPS Flight 2976, with three crew members on board, was departing Louisville bound for Honolulu, Hawaii, when “an accident” occurred, according to UPS. The death toll was at seven before officials resumed searching the crash site Wednesday morning, and two more victims were found.

Gov. Andy Beshear said in a social media post the death toll could rise even higher.

“Right now these families need prayers, love and support,” Beshear said in a post on X Wednesday morning. “Let’s wrap our arms around them during this unimaginable time.”

UPS said one of its planes, carrying three crew members, was involved. It was not clear Wednesday morning where the nine deaths occurred. Officials have not provided an update on the crew.

“We do not at the moment have the status of the crew,” Beshear said Tuesday night. “From the videos that I’ve seen, I’m very concerned for them.”

He asked people to pray and to avoid the crash site.

“UPS Flight 2976 crashed around 5:15 p.m. local time on Tuesday, Nov. 4, after departing from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky,” the Federal Aviation Administration said in a social media post. “The McDonnell Douglas MD-11 was headed to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu. The FAA and NTSB will investigate.”

There were also reports of people missing after the crash, which involved nearby businesses, including a car parts business and a petroleum recycling facility.

There were several explosions, and crews were still going door-to-door in the area Tuesday night, said Jody Meiman, executive director of Louisville Emergency Services, who said the crash affected “a very large area.”

All flights in and out of the airport were temporarily suspended, and the airfield was closed Tuesday evening.

“Passengers should closely monitor their flight status via their airline’s website or mobile app,” the FlyLouisville account on the social media platform X stated.

A victim-family reunification center was being set up at the Louisville Metro Police Academy at 2911 Taylor Blvd.

“There are a lot of families that are going to be waiting and wondering,” Beshear said.

The governor and other officials declined to speculate on the cause of the crash Tuesday night. The NTSB, which will be leading the investigation, said its team will arrive in Louisville on Wednesday.

The agency was expected to send a team of 28 people, Louisville Fire Department Chief Brian O’Neill said in an update late Tuesday.

UPS said in a statement at 9:30 p.m. it was “engaged with” the NTSB investigation, in contact with the FAA and committed to working with authorities on the response efforts.

Package sorting at UPS’s Worldport in Louisville was stopped Tuesday night because of the crash.

“We are terribly saddened by the accident tonight in Louisville. Our heartfelt thoughts are with everyone involved,” the company said. “UPS is committed to the safety of our employees, our customers and the communities we serve. This is particularly true in Louisville, home to our airline and thousands of UPSers.” “Family members seeking information should call 800-631-0604,” UPS said in the statement.

The plane reached an altitude of 175 feet and then rapidly descended, the New York Times reported, citing data from Flightradar 24.

O’Neill and Beshear said the plane was carrying 220,000 pounds of jet fuel, or 38,000 gallons.

As of about 10:15 p.m., O’Neill said the fire at the crash site was almost entirely contained, thanks to the efforts of about 100 firefighters.

The Louisville Metro Police Department reported it and “multiple other agencies” responded to the scene near Fern Valley and Grade Lane.

“This is an active scene with fire and debris. Stay away,” the police department said in a post on social media soon after the crash.

A shelter in place advisory covering a 5-mile radius was gradually narrowed throughout the evening Tuesday. As of just before 9 p.m., people within a one-mile radius of the airport were advised to shelter in place. The mayor of Jeffersonville, Ind., also issued a shelter in place.

Those under shelter in place orders were advised to turn off their air intake systems.

“Avoid smoke from the incident,” one alert stated.

Airport public safety officer Jonathan Biven said anyone who finds debris should report it and avoid touching it.

A huge plume of smoke could be seen on traffic cameras in the area of the Louisville International Airport in Jefferson County.

While the Okolona Fire Department was the first dispatched because of the location of the crash, multiple fire departments from surrounding cities, including the Lexington Fire Department, responded.

O’Neill said crews were working to contain the fire as of about 8 p.m.

Grade Lane will be closed indefinitely between Stooges and Crittenden.

In a post on the social media platform X, Beshear said he was on his way to Louisville and asked people to “please pray for the pilots, crew and everyone affected. We will share more soon.”

“The situation is serious,” he said.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg told WAVE television he was out of the city but was on his way back to town Tuesday evening.

The crash caused traffic snarls around the city Tuesday evening.

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(Herald-Leader reporter Valarie Honeycutt Spears contributed to this report. This is a developing story and will be updated.)

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