The number of fatalities from the UPS cargo plane which ignited and went down has risen to 13, per official reports.
Official's Announcement
Traveling to the Workers’ candlelight gathering, I received word of a thirteenth victim that died as a result of the aircraft accident,” stated the municipal leader in a public communication. “My thoughts is with the relatives, friends and colleagues of all who were taken in this recent tragedy. We will get through this together.”
Deceased Identified
An announcement from the carrier identified the flight crew aboard the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 as Captain Richard Wartenberg, Co-pilot Lee Truitt, and Relief Captain Dana Diamond.
“Our thoughts go out to all UPSer who has been touched and all in our local community – supporting you and making sure you get the care and aid you need is our priority,” the company’s statement read.
Investigation Findings
National authorities announced that the UPS cargo plane’s port side wing burst into flames and an engine separated shortly after takeoff from the Louisville Muhammad Ali international airport, causing the jet to crash and burst into a blaze.
The NTSB has said it is investigating the aircraft’s upkeep logs, which was in Texas for repairs weeks ahead of the accident.
Aircraft records indicated the aircraft was on the ground in the Texas city from the start of last month to last week.
“We are cognizant that this jet was present in San Antonio,” said an NTSB member on the following day, not giving a specific time frame. “We will review each aspect of repairs that was performed, even the San Antonio visit, straight to the day of the trip.”
Findings of Key Evidence
The cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder were retrieved, and the motor was located on the runway.
The units – called data containers – were built to withstand accident forces and extreme heat from infernos, and they appeared to be in one piece when found among the remains. Investigators will analyzing data from the devices.
The plane’s final data recordings showed an elevation of 475 ft and a velocity of 210 mph ahead of the crash.
Repair Background
Per FAA files from that date, a fissure on a part in the center wing fuel tank demanded maintenance.
Singapore-based ST Engineering, which said it provides structural repairs for the company’s jet and manages a repair facility in that city, refused to provide remarks, but said it would work closely when officials contacted it.
Operations Continue
In the meantime, the facility operations continued last night with its Next Day Air or evening operation, official Jim Mayer said. All three tarmacs at the airport were additionally back in operation.
The UPS package handling facility in the city is the organization’s most significant. The center engages over a large number of individuals in the locality, processes 300 flights each day and organizes in excess of four hundred thousand parcels each hour.
Local Reaction
A memorial was held on the night of 6 November by the local Teamsters Union, which supports employees at the aviation hub, the firm’s largest shipping facility.
Worker representatives, which stands for staff, commenced the gathering with a moment of silence at that time, the approximate time of the crash two days earlier.
“This incident was so sudden, so unforeseen,” the mayor told the group of two hundred. “No one had a chance to part to each of those who we have mourned.”