ADDS REMARKS BY KENTUCKY GOVERNOR; CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE
By Diyar Guldogan
WASHINGTON (AA) - At least three people were killed after a cargo plane crashed near Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) in Louisville, Kentucky, Gov. Andy Beshear said Tuesday.
"We believe we have at least three fatalities. I believe that number is going to get larger. We have at least 11 injuries, some of them very significant, that are being treated by local hospitals. Number will get larger," Beshear told reporters.
His remarks came after the United Parcel Service (UPS) said one of their aircraft was involved in a crash Tuesday, prompting the temporary closure of the airfield.
Beshear said there was "no specifically hazardous cargo" on board the plane that would create an environmental issue for those around the site, "but the impact and where it impacted could create those types of situations."
He added that there are two missing employees.
The airport said all arriving and departing flights are temporarily suspended and the airfield is closed.
Earlier, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said UPS flight 2976 crashed around 5.15 pm local time (2215GMT) after departing from the airport in Kentucky to Honolulu, Hawaii.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is in charge of the probe into the crash and will be the primary source of information about the official investigation.