Devastating Update on UPS Accident: Death Toll Rises to 13
The total count of victims from the freight aircraft which caught fire and went down has now reached 13, as confirmed by official reports.
Mayor's Remarks
While en route to the Union’s vigil, I learned of a 13th person that lost their life as a result of the UPS flight 2976 crash,” stated the municipal leader in a social media post. “My thoughts is with the families, companions and co-workers of all who were taken in this recently occurred tragedy. We will endure this together.”
Casualties Confirmed
A release from the carrier named the officers on board the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 as Captain Richard Wartenberg, First Officer Lee Truitt, and Relief Captain Dana Diamond.
“Our hearts reach out to every staff member who has been touched and all in our community region – supporting you and making sure you get the care and aid you need is our priority,” the organization’s statement stated.
Inquiry Details
National investigators disclosed that the freight aircraft’s port side wing caught fire and an power plant separated soon after liftoff from the aviation hub, resulting in the plane to crash and explode into a blaze.
The National Transportation Safety Board stated it is examining the jet’s service record, that was in Texas for repairs several weeks before the accident.
Aircraft records showed the jet was on the tarmac in San Antonio, Texas from early September to 18 October.
“We are cognizant that this plane was present in the facility,” remarked an investigator on the following day, without a specific period. “We will examine each aspect of service that was performed, even the San Antonio visit, all the way to the date of the flight.”
Retrieval of Critical Items
The pilot’s recorder and data recorder were retrieved, and the power plant was located on the runway.
The recorders – referred to as data containers – were constructed to endure crash impacts and intense heat from fires, and they seemed to be in one piece when located amid the remains. Investigators plan on examining data from the recorders.
Aircraft’s last flight details displayed an elevation of 475 feet and a speed of 210 miles per hour before the accident.
Service History
Based on Federal Aviation Administration files dated that date, a crack on a part within the fuel container demanded maintenance.
The company ST Engineering, which stated it offers aircraft servicing for UPS’s jet and runs a repair facility in that city, refused to comment, but expressed it would work closely when officials contacted it.
Activities Resume
At the same time, the hub operations restarted last night with its overnight also known as nighttime process, spokesperson the company official said. The three tarmacs at Louisville Muhammad Ali international airport were also open again.
The UPS package handling facility in the city is the firm’s largest. The facility hires more than a large number of individuals in the region, manages three hundred aircraft daily and sorts more than four hundred thousand items per hour.
Community Response
A memorial was conducted on the evening of 6 November by the regional worker’s group, which represents staff at the airfield, the organization’s primary shipping facility.
Teamsters Local 89, which represents staff, commenced the memorial with a moment of silence at the evening hour, the approximate hour of the accident two days earlier.
“This event was so abrupt, so surprising,” the leader told the assembly of 200. “No one had a moment to part to any of those who we have said farewell to.”