The tally of victims resulting from the UPS cargo plane which caught fire and crashed has risen to 13, per official announcements.
Official's Announcement
“On my way to the Teamsters’ memorial service, I received word of a 13th person that lost their life as a result of the UPS flight 2976 crash,” wrote the municipal leader in a social media post. “My heart are with the relatives, companions and co-workers of all who were killed in this recent disaster. We will endure this as one.”
Deceased Confirmed
A statement from the carrier named the flight crew on board the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 as Captain Richard Wartenberg, Co-pilot Lee Truitt, and International Relief Officer Dana Diamond.
“Our hearts are extended to every UPSer who has been touched and everyone in our Louisville community – supporting you and ensuring you receive the attention and aid you need is our priority,” the company’s statement read.
Inquiry Findings
National investigators revealed that the jet’s port side wing caught fire and an motor detached shortly after takeoff from the aviation hub, resulting in the aircraft to crash and erupt into a inferno.
The safety agency stated it is probing the jet’s maintenance history, which was in the state for repairs a period ahead of the accident.
Aircraft data showed the jet was on the runway in San Antonio, Texas from early September to last week.
“We are cognizant that this jet was located in the facility,” stated an official on Thursday, without a exact time frame. “We will review every piece of maintenance that was performed, from the repair visit, all the way to the time of the journey.”
Recovery of Critical Evidence
The pilot’s recorder and information unit were retrieved, and the engine was discovered on the airfield.
The recorders – referred to as flight recorders – were constructed to endure collision damage and intense temperatures from blazes, and they appeared to be undamaged when located within the wreckage. Officials plan on reviewing data from the recorders.
The plane’s final data recordings indicated an elevation of 475 feet and a speed of 210 mph ahead of the accident.
Repair History
Per Federal Aviation Administration files dated 18 September, a fracture on a component in the tank area required maintenance.
Singapore-based ST Engineering, which said it provides airframe maintenance for UPS’s aircraft and runs a service location in Texas, refused to provide remarks, but said it would work closely when officials contacted it.
Operations Continue
In the meantime, UPS Worldport operations restarted Wednesday night with its Next Day Air or nighttime procedure, official Jim Mayer said. The three runways at the airport were likewise back in operation.
The UPS package handling facility in the city is the firm’s biggest. The facility employs over a large number of people in the region, handles numerous flights per day and organizes in excess of four hundred thousand items per hour.
Public Response
A memorial was organized on the evening of that date by the regional worker’s group, which represents staff at the airfield, the company’s primary freight center.
The union chapter, which stands for UPS workers, commenced the memorial with a moment of silence at that time, the approximate time of the crash previously.
“This tragedy was so abrupt, so surprising,” the official told the crowd of two hundred. “No one had a moment to part to each of those who we have mourned.”
