Cargo plane crashes in Dubai

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A UPS cargo plane with two crew members on board crashed shortly after takeoff outside Dubai killing two people, officials said.

The plane went down inside an Emirati air base near a busy highway intersection about 16km south-east of Dubai's international airport.

The state news agency WAM reported the crash occurred in an unpopulated desert area, suggesting there may not have been casualties on the ground.

UPS spokeswoman Kristen Petrella said the Boeing 747-400 went down about 8pm in Dubai. Flight 6 was en route to the UPS hub in Cologne, Germany, she said.

''This incident is very unfortunate and we will do everything we can to find the cause,'' UPS' airline and international operations manager Bob Lekites said in a statement. ''Our thoughts go out to the crew members involved in the incident and their families.''

Smoke rose from the crash site, which was shielded from the highway by walls. Migrant laborers from a nearby camp gathered along the roadside to watch.

- AP