Tragic News on Cargo Plane Accident: Death Toll Increases to 13
The tally of fatalities from the transport jet that caught fire and crashed has now reached 13, per latest announcements.
Mayor's Announcement
While en route to the Teamsters’ memorial service, I learned of a thirteenth victim that lost their life as a consequence of the UPS flight 2976 accident,” stated the local official in a public communication. “My prayers is with the loved ones, associates and co-workers of all who were lost in this week’s disaster. We will get through this collectively.”
Deceased Named
An announcement from the company identified the pilots operating the aircraft as Pilot Richard Wartenberg, Co-pilot Lee Truitt, and Relief Captain Dana Diamond.
“Our hearts are extended to every staff member who has been affected and all in our Louisville area – supporting you and guaranteeing you get the support and assistance you need is our main concern,” the organization’s statement expressed.
Inquiry Updates
Federal investigators disclosed that the UPS cargo plane’s wing caught fire and an engine separated soon after takeoff from the aviation hub, causing the plane to plummet and explode into a fireball.
The NTSB stated it is examining the plane’s maintenance history, which was in Texas for repairs a period ahead of the crash.
Flight tracking records showed the aircraft was on the ground in that location from early September to mid-October.
“We are knowledgeable that this aircraft was located in San Antonio,” said an official on Thursday, not giving a specific date range. “We will examine every piece of repairs that was completed, even the San Antonio time, straight to the time of the flight.”
Recovery of Critical Items
The audio device and data recorder were found, and the motor was found on the tarmac.
The devices – referred to as flight recorders – were constructed to endure accident forces and extreme fire from blazes, and they appeared to be in one piece when located amid the crash debris. Investigators plan on examining data from the recorders.
The plane’s last data recordings showed an elevation of that level and a rate of 210 miles per hour before the accident.
Maintenance Background
Per FAA documents from 18 September, a crack on a structural piece inside the tank area needed fixes.
Singapore-based ST Engineering, which indicated it provides airframe maintenance for UPS’s jet and manages a repair facility in that city, chose not to comment, but stated it would work closely when officials contacted it.
Operations Restart
At the same time, UPS Worldport services restarted last night with its Next Day Air or evening operation, official a representative stated. All three tarmacs at the airport were likewise open again.
The UPS package handling facility in this location is the firm’s biggest. The hub engages more than 20,000 workers in the region, manages numerous trips per day and processes over four hundred thousand packages per hour.
Public Reaction
A memorial was organized on the late afternoon of recently by the area labor union, which acts for staff at the airfield, the organization’s biggest freight center.
Teamsters Local 89, which supports UPS workers, began the gathering with a moment of silence at the evening hour, the estimated time of the accident two days earlier.
“This event was so unexpected, so unforeseen,” the official spoke to the crowd of two hundred. “No one had a chance to bid farewell to any one of those who we have said farewell to.”