The number of victims from the UPS cargo plane that burst into flames and went down has now climbed to 13, according to latest statements.
City Leader's Statement
Traveling to the Workers’ candlelight gathering, I received word of a 13th person that passed away as a result of the aircraft accident,” expressed the municipal leader in a public communication. “My prayers is with the families, friends and colleagues of all who were taken in this week’s tragedy. We will overcome this collectively.”
Casualties Identified
A statement from the company identified the pilots operating the jet as Pilot Richard Wartenberg, Co-pilot Lee Truitt, and Relief Captain Dana Diamond.
“Our sympathies are extended to every employee who has been touched and all in our Louisville community – assisting you and making sure you receive the support and resources you need is our main concern,” the firm’s communication stated.
Inquiry Updates
National authorities announced that the freight aircraft’s port side wing caught fire and an motor detached shortly after liftoff from the Louisville Muhammad Ali international airport, resulting in the aircraft to plummet and burst into a blaze.
The National Transportation Safety Board has said it is examining the jet’s maintenance history, which was in Texas for maintenance several weeks before the incident.
Aircraft information showed the jet was on the runway in that location from 3 September to last week.
“We are knowledgeable that this jet was located in that city,” stated an official on later, without a specific date range. “We will look at each aspect of repairs that was completed, from the San Antonio period, straight to the time of the flight.”
Findings of Key Components
The cockpit voice recorder and data recorder were retrieved, and the power plant was located on the airfield.
The recorders – known as flight recorders – were built to withstand accident forces and severe fire from infernos, and they seemed to be intact when found within the remains. Authorities will reviewing information from the black boxes.
Jet’s final data recordings indicated an altitude of that level and a speed of that speed before the crash.
Repair History
Per FAA documents dated 18 September, a fracture on a structural piece in the fuel container needed repairs.
Headquartered in Singapore ST Engineering, which indicated it provides airframe maintenance for the company’s aircraft and manages a repair facility in Texas, declined to speak, but expressed it would cooperate fully when relevant authorities approached it.
Activities Resume
At the same time, UPS Worldport operations resumed that evening with its Next Day Air or nighttime process, official Jim Mayer said. The three runways at the aviation hub were also open again.
The UPS package handling facility in the city is the company’s most significant. The hub hires over 20,000 individuals in the region, manages 300 flights per day and organizes more than four hundred thousand packages each hour.
Public Response
A candlelight vigil was organized on the late afternoon of that date by the regional labor union, which supports staff at the aviation hub, the firm’s primary air cargo hub.
The union chapter, which supports employees, started the memorial with a moment of silence at that time, the approximate moment of the crash before.
“This tragedy was so abrupt, so unforeseen,” the leader addressed the group of two hundred. “No one had a moment to part to any of those who we have mourned.”
