What we know about the deadly Louisville Cargo Plane Crash

At least seven people were killed after a cargo plane veered off course and caught fire in Kentucky on Tuesday.

The burning plane, operated by the American Delifice Company UPS, hit several buildings when it crashed midway. Officials fear the death toll and wounded rising.

Here’s everything we know so far.

Flight Flight 2976, a cargo plane, crashed in Bloomsbury at Louisville International Airport at around 17:15 local time on Tuesday and skidded into nearby buildings.

The planes went down in flames and at least two nearby businesses were hit by the wreckage, state governor Andy Beshear said.

Kentucky Petroleum’s recycling was hit “pretty much straight away”, Beshear said, with a second business – an auto parts grade – also affected.

Undisclosed footage of the incident showed the plane engulfed in flames as it skidded off the runway.

The flames spread to several buildings near the road and officials launched a major operation to stop the explosion from spreading.

Nearby residents were ordered to stay indoors for fear of further explosions and air pollution. The airport is located in Kentucky’s largest city and several neighborhoods and business districts surround it.

All operations at the airport have been halted.

Officials have confirmed seven deaths so far but warned that the number is expected to rise.

It is unclear whether the death toll included the three crew members who were on board the plane and were feared dead.

Eleven other people were injured and treated in hospital – but local officials said the number was likely to rise again.

The head of the local fire service said he was not aware of anyone trapped in nearby buildings but said further work was underway.

Two workers at the auto business that was hit had not been identified as of Tuesday night, and it was not known how many customers were in the area when the crash occurred.

A preliminary investigation is expected but officials say it is too early to say what caused the crash.

However, officials determined that the massive explosion was caused by the amount of fuel on board the plane, which began a journey of nearly 4,300 miles (6,920km) to Hawaii.

The planes were carrying 38,000 gallons (144,000 liters) of fuel when they broke down.

It was not confirmed what was on board the cargo, although officials said the plane did not carry anything that would satisfy a heightened risk of contamination.

Louisville Fire Department Chief Fire O’Neal said the amount of fuel spilled at the crash site made it a “very dangerous situation”.

An order warning people to stay in the area shortened from a five-mile radius from the airport to a one-mile radius worked to contain the explosion at night.

The aircraft model involved is an MD-11F triple-engine multi-plane, which first entered service 34 years ago.