A man who was working next to the Louisiana Airport when the UPS plane crashed says he was "knocked down" by the force of the explosion. "

Sabit Aliyev, 40, was working at Kentucky Truck Parts & Services when the UPS cargo plane crashed on take off and erupted into a fireball at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky yesterday (4/11).

Video footage he shot shows the immediate aftermath of the crash, with the sky filled with thick black smoke.

He said he was finishing up work around at 5.15pm when the plane crashed and as soon as he turned his back, he heard the explosion and was knocked down by the sheer force of the blast.

Sabit, from Louisville, Kentucky, said: "It was a normal working day up, and then boom, there was an explosion."

"As soon as I walked into the shop, there was a big explosion."

"I have never experienced anything like that in my life. The wave of the explosion knocked us down."

"When we saw the fire, we just ran for our lives. We were pretty much trapped in the building as the smoke was so bad."

According to reports, at least seven people have been confirmed dead - including the plane crew - and 11 more have been injured.

The fire has been contained, and the search for 16 people is ongoing, according to Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear.

Louisville Airport is expected to reopen today.