At least twelve people are dead, including a child, and over a dozen are missing after a UPS plane carrying 38,000 gallons of fuel crashed after takeoff at a Kentucky airport, creating a massive fireball and leaving a huge field of debris, according to local outlet WLKY.

The horrific accident occurred after 5 p.m. Tuesday night at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, which houses the largest UPS packaging facility in the world.

Apocalyptic crash

While the exact cause of the disaster remains unclear, federal investigators said the plane's left wing caught fire before the left engine fell off.

The plane was loaded with thousands of gallons of fuel for a long-distance flight to Honolulu, Hawaii. The impact created an apocalyptic fire, sending huge billows of smoke over the city of Louisville.

Two businesses in the industrial area where the plane crashed were impacted. Three workers at an auto parts shop haven't been found.

At least 12 have died, including the plan's three crew members, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said. 15 people have been injured, two of them still in critical condition as of Wednesday.

Death toll rising

Authorities issued a shelter-in-place order covering nearly the whole city Tuesday night as 18 fire departments scrambled to put out the inferno.

The airport reopened on Wednesday, and the shelter-in-place was narrowed to a quarter-mile.

The status of 16 people remains unknown as of Wednesday. But Governor Andy Beshear (D) said hopes have dimmed of finding additional survivors.

“We are moving from a rescue to a recovery mode,” Beshear said. “We do not expect to find anyone else alive in the area.”

Investigation underway

The National Transportation Safety Board arrived at the crash site on Wednesday and began its investigation. A review of surveillance footage showed the plane's "engine detaching from the wing during the takeoff roll," NTSB board member Todd Inman said.

"The plane lifted off and gained enough altitude to clear the fence at the end of runway 17R. Shortly after clearing that fence, it made impact with structures and the terrain off of the airport property," Inman added.

UPS is the top employer in Louisville, making the disaster particularly devastating for residents there.

Worldport, the company's largest packaging hub, is located at the airport in Louisville and processes some 2 million packages daily.

“We are engaged with the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation of the accident and are staying in close contact with the Federal Aviation Administration. We will work tirelessly with state and local authorities on response efforts,” UPS said in a statement.