BEIJING: A cargo plane carrying seven crew crashed during take off in Shanghai on Saturday, killing three, state media reported.

The accident happened at 7:40 am (1140 GMT) as the Zimbabwe-registered MD-11 aircraft was attempting to leave Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Xinhua news agency reported.

Four crew members were injured -- one seriously -- in the crash, state-run television reported, without providing details on their injuries.

All seven crew members were foreigners. The charter plane was heading to Kyrgyzstan, state television said.

Three of the four injured have been taken to a local hospital for treatment, it said.

The aircraft caught fire after crashing and set fire to a nearby storage facility at the airport, the television report said.

Authorities have closed one runway, delaying 50 flights serving the airport, it said.

Television footage showed billowing thick smoke at the scene and police blocking access.

Further details were not provided and airport authorities could not be reached for comment.