Massive shelter-in-place ordered as UPS plane crash sends thick smoke billowing into sky

A widebody cargo plane crashed near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on Tuesday, CNN reported.

"UPS Flight 2976 crashed just after 5 p.m. local time and was headed to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, according to a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration, which is investigating the crash along with the National Transportation Safety Board," said the report. "The NTSB will lead the investigation, the FAA said Tuesday."

The crash, reportedly an MD-11, resulted in a massive plume of black smoke visible for miles. Police say there are reported injuries.

"Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport is the worldwide air hub for UPS. The company’s Worldport is more than 5 million square feet where more than 12,000 UPS employees process more than two million packages a day, according to the company," said the report. "A shelter-in-place has been issued for all locations within 5 miles of the airport, police added."

This follows a number of other aviation disasters this year, including a mid-air collision that downed an American Eagle flight in Washington, D.C. — the first fatal commercial airline accident in the United States in over 15 years.

It also comes as air traffic controllers are under unprecedented strain after weeks of a federal government shutdown, which has led to sporadic ground stops around the country.