The total count of victims due to the freight aircraft that ignited and went down has now reached 13, as confirmed by recent announcements.
Mayor's Statement
“On my way to the Union’s vigil, I received word of a 13th person that lost their life as a outcome of the UPS flight 2976 incident,” wrote the municipal leader in a social media post. “My prayers are with the families, friends and colleagues of all who were lost in this week’s disaster. We will get through this together.”
Deceased Identified
A release from the carrier identified the officers operating the jet as Pilot Richard Wartenberg, First Officer Lee Truitt, and International Relief Officer Dana Diamond.
“Our hearts reach out to every staff member who has been affected and all in our Louisville area – helping you and ensuring you obtain the attention and aid you need is our main concern,” the firm’s message stated.
Investigation Findings
National investigators revealed that the UPS cargo plane’s wing burst into flames and an power plant fell off just after departure from the airfield, causing the plane to plummet and erupt into a inferno.
The safety agency announced it is examining the plane’s maintenance history, which was in the state for maintenance several weeks before the accident.
Aviation records indicated the aircraft was on the runway in that location from 3 September to last week.
“We are cognizant that this jet was located in San Antonio,” said an official on later, not giving a precise time frame. “We will examine every piece of repairs that was completed, from the Texas period, right up to the time of the flight.”
Recovery of Vital Evidence
The pilot’s recorder and flight data recorder were found, and the engine was found on the tarmac.
The devices – referred to as data containers – were constructed to endure collision damage and extreme fire from fires, and they seemed to be intact when found amid the wreckage. Investigators plan on analyzing recordings from the devices.
Jet’s last flight details displayed an elevation of that level and a speed of that speed prior to the accident.
Repair Record
Based on FAA records from 18 September, a fracture on a structural piece inside the tank area needed repairs.
Singapore-based ST Engineering, which said it offers structural repairs for UPS’s aircraft and runs a maintenance center in San Antonio, chose not to comment, but said it would assist completely when officials approached it.
Activities Resume
In the meantime, the facility operations continued that evening with its express or nighttime procedure, spokesperson the company official confirmed. Each of the three landing strips at the aviation hub were likewise reopened.
The distribution hub in the city is the company’s most significant. The facility hires more than twenty thousand individuals in the region, handles 300 flights per day and sorts over four hundred thousand packages per hour.
Public Response
A memorial was organized on the night of 6 November by the regional worker’s group, which acts for employees at the Louisville airport, the firm’s biggest air cargo hub.
The union chapter, which supports UPS workers, began the vigil with a moment of silence at 5.14pm, the approximate hour of the incident before.
“This tragedy was so unexpected, so surprising,” the official spoke to the crowd of attendees. “No one had a moment to part to any of those who we have said farewell to.”
