The number of victims resulting from the UPS cargo plane that caught fire and plummeted has now reached 13, per recent statements.
Mayor's Statement
“On my way to the Workers’ memorial service, I received word of a thirteenth victim that lost their life as a result of the plane accident,” wrote the municipal leader in a public communication. “My thoughts is with the families, friends and co-workers of all who were lost in this recent calamity. We will overcome this as one.”
Casualties Identified
A statement from the company listed the officers aboard the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 as Captain Richard Wartenberg, First Officer Lee Truitt, and Relief Captain Dana Diamond.
“Our sympathies go out to every employee who has been affected and everyone in our Louisville area – assisting you and guaranteeing you obtain the care and assistance you need is our priority,” the company’s message expressed.
Inquiry Updates
Government investigators announced that the jet’s wing caught fire and an motor separated shortly after departure from the airfield, causing the jet to fall and erupt into a fireball.
The safety agency announced it is examining the plane’s upkeep logs, which was in Texas for repairs a period ahead of the incident.
Flight tracking information showed the aircraft was on the runway in San Antonio, Texas from 3 September to last week.
“We are knowledgeable that this jet was present in that city,” stated an official on Thursday, without a specific date range. “We will review each aspect of service that was completed, from the repair time, all the way to the time of the trip.”
Recovery of Key Components
The pilot’s recorder and flight data recorder were recovered, and the power plant was located on the airfield.
The devices – known as black boxes – were designed to withstand accident forces and extreme temperatures from infernos, and they looked to be intact when found among the remains. Investigators will reviewing information from the black boxes.
Jet’s final recorded information indicated an altitude of 475 feet and a rate of 210 mph ahead of the crash.
Repair Record
According to Federal Aviation Administration documents from that date, a fissure on a part inside the center wing fuel tank needed repairs.
Headquartered in Singapore ST Engineering, which stated it provides airframe maintenance for the carrier’s aircraft and runs a repair facility in San Antonio, declined to provide remarks, but expressed it would cooperate fully when officials contacted it.
Operations Restart
In the meantime, UPS Worldport operations continued that evening with its express also known as nighttime procedure, spokesperson Jim Mayer confirmed. Each of the three runways at the airport were additionally back in operation.
The UPS package handling facility in the city is the company’s largest. The center hires more than a large number of individuals in the region, manages 300 aircraft each day and organizes over 400,000 packages an hour.
Community Response
A memorial was organized on the evening of recently by the regional Teamsters Union, which acts for staff at the Louisville airport, the company’s primary shipping facility.
Worker representatives, which supports employees, commenced the vigil with a period of reflection at 5.14pm, the estimated moment of the accident before.
“This incident was so unexpected, so unforeseen,” the leader spoke to the assembly of two hundred. “No one had a chance to bid farewell to each of those who we have lost.”
