The number of victims from the UPS cargo plane which caught fire and went down has now climbed to 13, per official announcements.
City Leader's Statement
While en route to the Union’s memorial service, I was informed of a thirteenth victim that died as a outcome of the UPS flight 2976 incident,” expressed the city mayor in a online message. “My prayers is with the families, associates and co-workers of all who were lost in this recently occurred calamity. We will overcome this together.”
Deceased Confirmed
A statement from the company identified the officers aboard the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 as Captain Richard Wartenberg, Co-pilot Lee Truitt, and International Relief Officer Dana Diamond.
“Our thoughts go out to all UPSer who has been touched and all in our local area – supporting you and ensuring you receive the care and resources you need is our focus,” the firm’s communication stated.
Investigation Updates
Federal authorities disclosed that the jet’s port side wing burst into flames and an motor fell off soon after departure from the aviation hub, resulting in the jet to plummet and explode into a blaze.
The safety agency stated it is examining the plane’s upkeep logs, which was in Texas for maintenance a period before the accident.
Aircraft information revealed the plane was on the tarmac in the Texas city from early September to mid-October.
“We are cognizant that this aircraft was located in San Antonio,” stated an official on Thursday, not giving a specific date range. “We will examine every piece of repairs that was completed, including the Texas period, straight to the day of the journey.”
Findings of Key Components
The audio device and flight data recorder were recovered, and the engine was located on the runway.
The devices – called black boxes – were built to withstand crash impacts and intense temperatures from blazes, and they seemed to be undamaged when located amid the wreckage. Investigators will analyzing information from the devices.
Jet’s final recorded information indicated an height of 475 ft and a rate of that speed ahead of the impact.
Repair Background
Per Federal Aviation Administration records dated 18 September, a fracture on a structural piece in the tank area demanded fixes.
Headquartered in Singapore ST Engineering, which said it provides aircraft servicing for the carrier’s jet and runs a maintenance center in Texas, declined to comment, but expressed it would cooperate fully when relevant authorities approached it.
Services Continue
In the meantime, the hub operations resumed Wednesday night with its overnight also known as night sort process, representative Jim Mayer confirmed. The three tarmacs at the aviation hub were additionally reopened.
The distribution hub in Louisville is the organization’s most significant. The center hires in excess of a large number of people in the area, manages 300 trips daily and organizes in excess of four hundred thousand parcels per hour.
Public Response
A memorial was held on the night of that date by the area labor union, which acts for staff at the airfield, the organization’s biggest air cargo hub.
The union chapter, which supports staff, started the memorial with a moment of silence at 5.14pm, the approximate moment of the accident two days earlier.
“This event was so abrupt, so surprising,” the mayor spoke to the group of attendees. “No one had a moment to say goodbye to each of those who we have lost.”
