Tragic News on Cargo Plane Crash: Death Toll Increases to 13
The tally of fatalities from the UPS cargo plane that burst into flames and went down has now climbed to 13, according to official reports.
City Leader's Announcement
Traveling to the Teamsters’ vigil, I was informed of a additional fatality that passed away as a outcome of the UPS flight 2976 incident,” stated the municipal leader in a online message. “My prayers are with the relatives, companions and co-workers of all who were killed in this recent calamity. We will overcome this together.”
Victims Named
A release from the carrier listed the pilots aboard the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 as Captain Richard Wartenberg, Co-pilot Lee Truitt, and International Relief Officer Dana Diamond.
“Our thoughts go out to all UPSer who has been affected and all in our Louisville area – assisting you and guaranteeing you obtain the care and resources you need is our main concern,” the organization’s message read.
Probe Details
Federal investigators announced that the freight aircraft’s wing caught fire and an motor fell off shortly after departure from the aviation hub, leading to the plane to plummet and explode into a blaze.
The National Transportation Safety Board stated it is probing the aircraft’s maintenance history, that was in Texas for repairs several weeks before the crash.
Aircraft records revealed the jet was on the runway in the Texas city from 3 September to last week.
“We are aware that this jet was located in the facility,” stated an NTSB member on Thursday, without a precise period. “We will review all elements of repairs that was performed, including the repair time, all the way to the day of the journey.”
Findings of Vital Items
The cockpit voice recorder and data recorder were recovered, and the engine was located on the tarmac.
The recorders – called data containers – were constructed to withstand collision damage and severe heat from fires, and they appeared to be in one piece when found amid the crash debris. Investigators plan on analyzing data from the recorders.
Aircraft’s final data recordings indicated an altitude of 475 feet and a velocity of 210 miles per hour ahead of the crash.
Repair Background
Per FAA documents from 18 September, a fissure on a structural piece in the tank area needed repairs.
Headquartered in Singapore ST Engineering, which said it offers aircraft servicing for UPS’s MD-11 and operates a repair facility in Texas, declined to speak, but stated it would work closely when investigators approached it.
Operations Resume
In the meantime, UPS Worldport activities continued that evening with its express or evening operation, spokesperson a representative stated. The three tarmacs at the aviation hub were also reopened.
The distribution hub in Louisville is the firm’s biggest. The center hires more than twenty thousand workers in the area, processes 300 flights each day and sorts more than four hundred thousand packages an hour.
Public Response
A candlelight vigil was conducted on the night of that date by the local labor union, which supports staff at the airfield, the firm’s primary shipping facility.
Teamsters Local 89, which represents UPS workers, started the gathering with a quiet tribute at 5.14pm, the approximate moment of the incident before.
“This tragedy was so unexpected, so unforeseen,” the leader addressed the group of 200. “No one had a opportunity to bid farewell to any of those who we have said farewell to.”