The number of fatalities resulting from the UPS cargo plane which ignited and crashed has now climbed to 13, per official announcements.
Mayor's Statement
Traveling to the Teamsters’ candlelight gathering, I received word of a thirteenth victim that lost their life as a result of the plane incident,” wrote the local official in a online message. “My prayers is with the relatives, friends and co-workers of all who were killed in this recently occurred calamity. We will overcome this collectively.”
Casualties Identified
An announcement from UPS identified the flight crew aboard the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 as Captain Richard Wartenberg, Co-pilot Lee Truitt, and International Relief Officer Dana Diamond.
“Our sympathies go out to each staff member who has been affected and all in our local region – helping you and ensuring you receive the attention and resources you need is our focus,” the company’s statement read.
Investigation Updates
Government investigators announced that the UPS cargo plane’s wing ignited and an motor fell off soon after takeoff from the airfield, causing the aircraft to plummet and erupt into a fireball.
The NTSB announced it is probing the aircraft’s service record, that was in the state for maintenance several weeks before the crash.
Aviation data revealed the plane was on the runway in the Texas city from the start of last month to mid-October.
“We are aware that this plane was there in San Antonio,” remarked an investigator on later, not giving a specific period. “We will review every piece of service that was done, from the Texas time, straight to the date of the flight.”
Recovery of Key Components
The audio device and flight data recorder were found, and the engine was discovered on the runway.
The recorders – called data containers – were built to withstand accident forces and extreme heat from blazes, and they appeared to be undamaged when found amid the crash debris. Authorities will reviewing data from the recorders.
The plane’s last data recordings showed an altitude of that level and a speed of 210 mph ahead of the impact.
Service Record
According to aviation authority records from last month, a fracture on a part within the tank area demanded fixes.
The company ST Engineering, which indicated it provides aircraft servicing for the carrier’s jet and operates a maintenance center in Texas, declined to comment, but expressed it would assist completely when relevant authorities reached out it.
Activities Continue
At the same time, the hub services restarted Wednesday night with its overnight also known as nighttime operation, official Jim Mayer stated. Each of the three runways at Louisville Muhammad Ali international airport were additionally back in operation.
The sorting center in this location is the company’s largest. The hub engages more than a large number of people in the locality, processes 300 aircraft per day and sorts in excess of 400,000 parcels an hour.
Local Reaction
A memorial was conducted on the night of that date by the regional Teamsters Union, which represents employees at the Louisville airport, the company’s largest freight center.
Worker representatives, which represents UPS workers, started the gathering with a moment of silence at that time, the approximate time of the accident previously.
“This incident was so unexpected, so surprising,” the mayor spoke to the crowd of two hundred. “No one had a opportunity to part to any one of those who we have mourned.”
