At Least 7 Dead, 11 Injured After UPS Plane Crashes Near Louisville Airport

7:34 PM PT -- Officials now confirm 7 people are dead from the crash.

5:02 PM PT -- Authorities now say at least three people are dead and 11 were injured in the UPS plane crash.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear called it a "catastrophic" scene and warned the death toll is expected to rise, adding many of the victims suffered "very significant" injuries.

A UPS plane has crashed at the airport in Louisville, Kentucky ... and the massive explosion created a huge fire in the area.

According to authorities ... the plane crashed at about 5:15 PM local time shortly after taking off for Honolulu.

There is currently a shelter in place for the area within five miles of the airport ... as police assess how many people are injured. It's unclear if there were any casualties.

UPS said three crewmembers were on board, WLKY-TV reports.

The plane, identified as a McDonnell Douglas MD-11F, is a freight transport aircraft, according to CNN.

Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport is home to UPS's worldwide air hub ... with over two million packages a day passing through.

It's unclear what caused the crash ... but the National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA will handle the investigation.