• 12 killed including a young child after cargo plane crash in Kentucky
• Preliminary investigation points to fire in left wing before loss of control

At least 12 people were killed after a cargo plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Louisville International Airport in the US state of Kentucky, according to city mayor Craig Greenberg.

Greenberg said on a social media platform: "I am deeply saddened to inform you that the death toll has risen to 12, and several individuals are still unaccounted for."

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear had earlier announced that one of the victims was a young child, adding, "Having a young child among the dead makes it all the harder."

UPS flight 2976 crashed around 5:15 pm local time after departing from Muhammad Ali International Airport en route to Honolulu, Hawaii.

Beshear told reporters that he declared a state of emergency, saying: "The new development today, following yesterday’s events, is the declaration of a state of emergency to help us deal with this plane crash. It allows us to move resources more quickly through emergency management and the Kentucky National Guard."

He added that he has taken steps to establish an emergency relief fund to support those affected by "this terrible event."

NTSB member Todd Inman told reporters that the plane had three people on board, and that after being cleared for takeoff, a "large plume of fire" occurred in the area of the left wing during the takeoff roll.

He added that the board will analyze the facts, determine the probable cause of the accident, and then issue a report with recommendations.

He also noted that the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder, known as the "black box," have been recovered.

When asked about the condition of the recorders, Inman said he had seen only one picture, adding: "You can easily identify it, there are two cylinders on top. Our specialists confirmed it was easily recognizable. We won’t know the full details until it reaches Washington."

He added: "Fortunately, the recorders were not exposed to post-crash fire for multiple days or submerged at the bottom of the ocean, so we can open them once they arrive in the capital."