The total count of victims from the UPS cargo plane which caught fire and went down has now risen to 13, as confirmed by recent announcements.
Mayor's Remarks
“On my way to the Teamsters’ vigil, I learned of a thirteenth victim that lost their life as a result of the UPS flight 2976 accident,” expressed the municipal leader in a social media post. “My thoughts are with the relatives, friends and colleagues of all who were taken in this recent calamity. We will get through this together.”
Casualties Named
A release from UPS identified the officers on board the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 as Captain Richard Wartenberg, Co-pilot Lee Truitt, and International Relief Officer Dana Diamond.
“Our thoughts are extended to all employee who has been impacted and everyone in our Louisville area – assisting you and making sure you get the support and resources you need is our main concern,” the organization’s statement stated.
Inquiry Details
Federal authorities revealed that the freight aircraft’s wing burst into flames and an engine detached shortly after liftoff from the airfield, leading to the plane to fall and erupt into a blaze.
The safety agency announced it is investigating the plane’s upkeep logs, that was in Texas for fixes a period ahead of the incident.
Flight tracking data revealed the plane was on the tarmac in San Antonio, Texas from early September to mid-October.
“We are cognizant that this aircraft was located in that city,” stated an NTSB member on later, not giving a specific period. “We will review each aspect of service that was done, even the Texas time, all the way to the time of the journey.”
Recovery of Critical Components
The pilot’s recorder and flight data recorder were retrieved, and the engine was located on the tarmac.
The recorders – referred to as data containers – were built to survive accident forces and intense heat from infernos, and they looked to be undamaged when found amid the wreckage. Officials intend to examining recordings from the devices.
Jet’s final data recordings indicated an height of 475 ft and a velocity of that speed prior to the impact.
Repair Background
Per Federal Aviation Administration files from last month, a fracture on a component within the tank area needed fixes.
Singapore-based ST Engineering, which stated it provides aircraft servicing for UPS’s aircraft and runs a maintenance center in Texas, chose not to speak, but said it would work closely when relevant authorities approached it.
Activities Restart
In the meantime, the hub activities restarted that evening with its overnight or nighttime operation, spokesperson the company official said. The three landing strips at the aviation hub were also back in operation.
The distribution hub in Louisville is the company’s most significant. The facility employs over a large number of people in the region, processes three hundred trips daily and organizes over a huge volume of items each hour.
Community Support
A gathering was organized on the late afternoon of 6 November by the local worker’s group, which acts for employees at the airfield, the organization’s largest freight center.
Teamsters Local 89, which represents UPS workers, started the gathering with a period of reflection at that time, the rough time of the incident two days earlier.
“This tragedy was so unexpected, so unforeseen,” the mayor spoke to the group of two hundred. “No one had a chance to say goodbye to any of those who we have mourned.”
