The total count of fatalities due to the UPS cargo plane which ignited and went down has now reached 13, per recent statements.
Mayor's Statement
Traveling to the Teamsters’ memorial service, I was informed of a thirteenth victim that lost their life as a result of the aircraft crash,” stated the municipal leader in a social media post. “My thoughts is with the families, friends and colleagues of all who were killed in this week’s disaster. We will get through this together.”
Casualties Named
A statement from UPS listed the pilots on board the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 as Captain Richard Wartenberg, Co-pilot Lee Truitt, and Relief Captain Dana Diamond.
“Our thoughts reach out to every employee who has been affected and everyone in our local community – helping you and making sure you obtain the attention and assistance you need is our main concern,” the organization’s message stated.
Investigation Findings
National officials revealed that the freight aircraft’s wing ignited and an motor fell off just after departure from the airfield, resulting in the plane to fall and explode into a blaze.
The NTSB announced it is examining the plane’s upkeep logs, that was in the state for repairs weeks prior to the accident.
Flight tracking information revealed the aircraft was on the ground in San Antonio, Texas from early September to last week.
“We are knowledgeable that this plane was present in San Antonio,” stated an official on later, not giving a precise period. “We will look at every piece of service that was completed, including the San Antonio period, straight to the time of the trip.”
Recovery of Vital Evidence
The cockpit voice recorder and information unit were retrieved, and the power plant was discovered on the tarmac.
The recorders – referred to as black boxes – were built to withstand accident forces and extreme fire from infernos, and they appeared to be in one piece when discovered within the wreckage. Officials plan on reviewing data from the black boxes.
The plane’s last data recordings showed an elevation of 475 feet and a speed of that speed prior to the crash.
Service Background
According to FAA files dated that date, a fracture on a structural piece within the tank area needed repairs.
Singapore-based ST Engineering, which said it provides aircraft servicing for UPS’s jet and manages a repair facility in Texas, declined to provide remarks, but said it would cooperate fully when relevant authorities contacted it.
Operations Continue
At the same time, the facility activities continued Wednesday night with its overnight also known as nighttime procedure, official a representative confirmed. The three tarmacs at the airport were likewise open again.
The UPS package handling facility in Louisville is the firm’s biggest. The center employs over a large number of workers in the region, processes 300 aircraft daily and sorts over four hundred thousand parcels each hour.
Community Response
A gathering was organized on the evening of 6 November by the area worker’s group, which represents staff at the airfield, the company’s biggest air cargo hub.
Worker representatives, which stands for UPS workers, began the memorial with a period of reflection at that time, the approximate hour of the crash two days earlier.
“This tragedy was so unexpected, so surprising,” the mayor addressed the assembly of 200. “No one had a chance to say goodbye to each of those who we have mourned.”
