A large cargo plane flying from Louisville, Kentucky to Birmingham, Alabama has crashed killing both the pilot and co-pilot on the flight.

The UPS cargo plane is said to be an Airbus A300 cargo plane and it crashed about 5 am local time on its approach to the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport in Alabama.

The crash occurred just outside the perimeters of the airport in an area which has been cleared for the expansion of the airport.

“I can confirm they were killed in the crash,” Birmingham Mayor William Bell said of the pilot and co-pilot, who were not identified immediately. He mentioned that no other casualties were recorded.

There were at least two blasts from the crash after the plane caught fire. “It was quite a large fire and there were two to three explosions after the plane caught fire, after the crash itself,” April Odom, Bell’s spokeswoman said.

“This incident is very unfortunate, and our thoughts and prayers are with those involved,” UPS Airlines president Mitch Nichols.

“We place the utmost value on the safety of our employees, our customers and the public.” he said.

The plane involved was reportedly built in 2003 and had been in the air for 11,000 hours over 6,800 flights according to the manufacturer, Airbus.

This is the second Airbus A300 crash in the U. S. in 12 years after an A300 having 260 people on board crashed while lifting off from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City in 2001. All people on board and five on ground died.

This is also coming as the second plane crash to affect UPS in three years after its Boeing 747 crashed in Dubai, United Arab Emirates about three years ago.

Condolences to the family of the pilot and co-pilot affected.

Source: http://www.lolade.com/2013/08/ups-cargo-plane-crashes-two-dead.html

What a tragedy My heart and prayers goes to the families and loved ones left behind. May the soul of the departed rest in peace!!!