The number of victims resulting from the transport jet which burst into flames and crashed has now reached 13, as confirmed by latest reports.
Mayor's Statement
“On my way to the Teamsters’ memorial service, I learned of a thirteenth victim that lost their life as a result of the UPS flight 2976 accident,” wrote the local official in a social media post. “My prayers are with the loved ones, friends and colleagues of all who were taken in this recent tragedy. We will get through this together.”
Casualties Named
A statement from the carrier identified the pilots on board the jet as Captain Richard Wartenberg, Co-pilot Lee Truitt, and International Relief Officer Dana Diamond.
“Our thoughts go out to every staff member who has been touched and everyone in our Louisville area – assisting you and guaranteeing you receive the attention and resources you need is our main concern,” the company’s message stated.
Inquiry Updates
Government officials revealed that the UPS cargo plane’s wing caught fire and an power plant detached shortly after liftoff from the aviation hub, leading to the jet to crash and burst into a inferno.
The NTSB announced it is investigating the jet’s maintenance history, that was in the state for maintenance several weeks ahead of the accident.
Aviation data showed the aircraft was on the runway in the Texas city from the start of last month to mid-October.
“We are cognizant that this jet was located in the facility,” remarked an official on later, not giving a precise date range. “We will look at each aspect of repairs that was done, even the repair visit, all the way to the date of the journey.”
Retrieval of Vital Components
The pilot’s recorder and flight data recorder were recovered, and the power plant was discovered on the airfield.
The recorders – called flight recorders – were designed to withstand accident forces and extreme fire from blazes, and they seemed to be undamaged when found amid the crash debris. Authorities will analyzing recordings from the black boxes.
The plane’s final data recordings showed an altitude of 475 ft and a rate of that speed prior to the crash.
Maintenance Background
Per aviation authority files dated 18 September, a crack on a part in the center wing fuel tank required fixes.
Singapore-based ST Engineering, which indicated it offers structural repairs for the company’s aircraft and operates a repair facility in Texas, chose not to speak, but expressed it would assist completely when officials contacted it.
Services Restart
Meanwhile, UPS Worldport services restarted that evening with its Next Day Air or night sort procedure, spokesperson a representative said. Each of the three runways at the aviation hub were likewise reopened.
The distribution hub in Louisville is the company’s most significant. The facility engages more than a large number of workers in the area, handles numerous aircraft each day and sorts in excess of 400,000 packages per hour.
Local Reaction
A memorial was organized on the evening of that date by the regional labor union, which acts for staff at the aviation hub, the organization’s largest freight center.
The union chapter, which supports UPS workers, began the memorial with a period of reflection at 5.14pm, the rough time of the incident two days earlier.
“This event was so abrupt, so surprising,” the mayor spoke to the assembly of two hundred. “No one had a opportunity to bid farewell to any of those who we have said farewell to.”
