The number of lives lost due to the UPS cargo plane that caught fire and plummeted has now risen to 13, per recent statements.
Mayor's Announcement
“On my way to the Union’s candlelight gathering, I learned of a thirteenth victim that lost their life as a result of the UPS flight 2976 incident,” stated the city mayor in a social media post. “My thoughts is with the relatives, associates and colleagues of all who were killed in this week’s tragedy. We will endure this collectively.”
Deceased Confirmed
A statement from the company named the pilots on board the jet as Pilot Richard Wartenberg, First Officer Lee Truitt, and Relief Captain Dana Diamond.
“Our thoughts go out to every employee who has been touched and all in our community area – supporting you and guaranteeing you get the support and resources you need is our priority,” the firm’s communication stated.
Probe Findings
Government investigators disclosed that the freight aircraft’s port side wing caught fire and an power plant separated soon after takeoff from the airfield, resulting in the jet to crash and burst into a inferno.
The National Transportation Safety Board has said it is examining the aircraft’s maintenance history, which was in Texas for maintenance several weeks ahead of the crash.
Aircraft data showed the plane was on the runway in San Antonio, Texas from early September to mid-October.
“We are knowledgeable that this plane was located in San Antonio,” stated an NTSB member on later, without providing a exact period. “We will examine each aspect of maintenance that was done, including the Texas time, right up to the time of the journey.”
Recovery of Vital Components
The audio device and information unit were recovered, and the power plant was discovered on the tarmac.
The devices – known as black boxes – were constructed to withstand crash impacts and extreme temperatures from blazes, and they seemed to be undamaged when discovered among the crash debris. Officials plan on reviewing data from the black boxes.
The plane’s last flight details displayed an height of 475 ft and a rate of 210 mph ahead of the accident.
Maintenance History
Based on Federal Aviation Administration documents dated last month, a fissure on a part inside the center wing fuel tank needed maintenance.
Singapore-based ST Engineering, which stated it provides aircraft servicing for the carrier’s MD-11 and runs a maintenance center in Texas, chose not to speak, but said it would cooperate fully when officials reached out it.
Activities Resume
In the meantime, the facility services continued last night with its overnight or night sort procedure, representative the company official stated. All three landing strips at Louisville Muhammad Ali international airport were also reopened.
The distribution hub in the city is the firm’s largest. The facility employs in excess of twenty thousand people in the locality, processes three hundred flights each day and processes more than 400,000 items each hour.
Public Response
A memorial was held on the night of that date by the area Teamsters Union, which represents workers at the aviation hub, the company’s primary shipping facility.
Teamsters Local 89, which supports staff, started the vigil with a quiet tribute at the evening hour, the estimated moment of the accident two days earlier.
“This event was so unexpected, so surprising,” the mayor addressed the crowd of two hundred. “No one had a moment to bid farewell to each of those who we have mourned.”
