Two pilots onboard a UPS flight that crashed in Alabama were killed. AP UPS Flight 1354, an A300 cargo plane en route from Louisville, Kentucky, crashed while approaching Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport in Alabama around 5 a.m. today, the Federal Aviation Authority confirms.

The Mayor of Birmingham has announced that two people, the pilot and co-pilot, were aboard the plane and have died.

KLAS-TV anchor Cale Ramker reports that radar shows the plane's rapid descent from 9,500 feet to 2,600 feet in two minutes.

WVTM reports that the plane is burning and there have now been at least three explosions, adding that the debris from the crash stretches about a half-mile. It has not disrupted other airport operations.

A team from the National Transportation Safety Board is on the way to Birmingham now to investigate the crash, and should be on the scene by 11 a.m. local time. In a press conference, lead investigator Bob Sumwalt said he is "optimistic" the team will be able to recover the A300's "black boxes."



Here's the flight path:

Here's a video from the scene:

UPS cargo plane crashes short of BHM runway. Photo courtesy April Odom, City of Birmingham, AL. pic.twitter.com/5UeMMiVAZq — Jonathan Serrie (@jonathanserrie) August 14, 2013

NEW PHOTOS: Scene of deadly cargo plane crash near Birmingham, AL http://t.co/aZicQvSXXF pic.twitter.com/lnUyxfRWSZ — NewsBreaker (@NewsBreaker) August 14, 2013

Wider view of plane crash. Hearing hazardous materials may be on plane. I can see flames at crash site pic.twitter.com/E9R6jH19Rf — Clare Huddleston (@Fox6Clare) August 14, 2013

EXCLUSIVE: this is remain of plane on hillside pic.twitter.com/ifkauhuZo8 — Clare Huddleston (@Fox6Clare) August 14, 2013

UPS issued this statement saying it would work with the NTSB to find the cause of the crash:

At 6:11 a.m. EST, UPS Flight 1354 from Louisville, KY to Birmingham, AL, an A300 with two crew members, was involved in an accident on approach into the Birmingham airport.

At this time, we have not confirmed the status of our pilots. "This incident is very unfortunate, and our thoughts and prayers are with those involved," said UPS Airlines President Mitch Nichols.

"We place the utmost value on the safety of our employees, our customers and the public. We will immediately engage with the National Transportation Safety Board's investigation, and we will work exhaustively on response efforts," continued Nichols.

UPS will release more facts about this accident as they become available, but the NTSB will be in charge of the investigation and will be the primary source of information going forward.

To keep you informed of developments, UPS has established a media information hotline: (502) 329-0110. A recorded message will provide updates as this situation unfolds; the system will also allow reporters to leave messages.

Updates will also be provided via the Internet at www.pressroom.UPS.com.

Family members seeking information should telephone 800-631-0604.

Here's an NTSB photo of the aftermath: