The number of victims from the freight aircraft which ignited and plummeted has reached 13, per official announcements.
Official's Remarks
“On my way to the Teamsters’ memorial service, I learned of a additional fatality that died as a result of the UPS flight 2976 accident,” wrote the local official in a social media post. “My thoughts is with the families, associates and peers of all who were lost in this week’s tragedy. We will overcome this collectively.”
Deceased Identified
An announcement from the company listed the officers operating the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 as Captain Richard Wartenberg, First Officer Lee Truitt, and International Relief Officer Dana Diamond.
“Our thoughts reach out to all UPSer who has been touched and everyone in our community community – helping you and making sure you get the support and assistance you need is our priority,” the company’s message read.
Investigation Findings
Federal authorities revealed that the UPS cargo plane’s wing caught fire and an motor separated just after departure from the Louisville Muhammad Ali international airport, leading to the aircraft to crash and explode into a fireball.
The safety agency announced it is investigating the plane’s service record, that was in the state for repairs weeks before the crash.
Flight tracking records showed the plane was on the tarmac in that location from 3 September to 18 October.
“We are knowledgeable that this plane was there in the facility,” remarked an official on the following day, not giving a exact time frame. “We will review every piece of repairs that was performed, from the repair time, all the way to the day of the trip.”
Recovery of Critical Components
The cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder were found, and the motor was discovered on the tarmac.
The recorders – referred to as flight recorders – were designed to endure collision damage and severe heat from fires, and they appeared to be in one piece when found among the remains. Officials intend to reviewing recordings from the black boxes.
The plane’s final recorded information showed an altitude of 475 ft and a rate of that speed prior to the crash.
Service Background
According to FAA documents from that date, a crack on a part inside the center wing fuel tank needed repairs.
The company ST Engineering, which indicated it supplies airframe maintenance for the company’s jet and manages a repair facility in San Antonio, chose not to provide remarks, but said it would assist completely when officials contacted it.
Operations Restart
At the same time, UPS Worldport services continued that evening with its Next Day Air also known as evening process, spokesperson Jim Mayer confirmed. All three landing strips at Louisville Muhammad Ali international airport were also open again.
The sorting center in Louisville is the organization’s largest. The facility hires more than twenty thousand workers in the locality, processes three hundred trips daily and organizes over 400,000 packages each hour.
Local Response
A gathering was held on the evening of 6 November by the local worker’s group, which represents employees at the airfield, the firm’s biggest freight center.
The union chapter, which stands for staff, started the gathering with a quiet tribute at the evening hour, the rough moment of the accident before.
“This tragedy was so sudden, so unforeseen,” the mayor spoke to the crowd of two hundred. “No one had a moment to part to any of those who we have lost.”
