The number of lives lost resulting from the UPS cargo plane that ignited and went down has now risen to 13, per latest announcements.
City Leader's Statement
While en route to the Workers’ memorial service, I received word of a 13th person that passed away as a result of the aircraft incident,” wrote the local official in a public communication. “My thoughts are with the families, companions and peers of all who were lost in this recently occurred disaster. We will overcome this collectively.”
Deceased Confirmed
A statement from UPS identified the pilots operating the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 as Pilot Richard Wartenberg, Co-pilot Lee Truitt, and International Relief Officer Dana Diamond.
“Our sympathies are extended to all employee who has been impacted and everyone in our local area – assisting you and ensuring you obtain the support and assistance you need is our priority,” the company’s communication read.
Probe Findings
Government authorities revealed that the freight aircraft’s left wing caught fire and an motor fell off shortly after departure from the airfield, resulting in the jet to crash and erupt into a fireball.
The National Transportation Safety Board has said it is probing the aircraft’s upkeep logs, that was in Texas for repairs several weeks ahead of the accident.
Flight tracking data showed the aircraft was on the tarmac in the Texas city from early September to 18 October.
“We are cognizant that this jet was there in that city,” said an NTSB member on Thursday, not giving a specific period. “We will look at each aspect of repairs that was performed, even the San Antonio period, straight to the day of the journey.”
Retrieval of Critical Evidence
The pilot’s recorder and flight data recorder were retrieved, and the motor was found on the airfield.
The recorders – called black boxes – were built to survive accident forces and severe heat from fires, and they appeared to be in one piece when discovered among the crash debris. Investigators plan on analyzing information from the black boxes.
Aircraft’s last data recordings indicated an height of 475 feet and a speed of that speed prior to the impact.
Service History
Per FAA documents dated 18 September, a fissure on a part within the tank area required fixes.
Singapore-based ST Engineering, which stated it supplies airframe maintenance for the company’s jet and operates a maintenance center in that city, refused to speak, but expressed it would cooperate fully when relevant authorities approached it.
Activities Continue
At the same time, the facility operations restarted that evening with its express also known as night sort procedure, representative the company official said. All three landing strips at the airport were likewise back in operation.
The sorting center in the city is the company’s most significant. The center employs more than 20,000 people in the area, handles 300 aircraft each day and processes in excess of 400,000 items each hour.
Local Reaction
A candlelight vigil was organized on the late afternoon of 6 November by the regional Teamsters Union, which acts for staff at the Louisville airport, the organization’s biggest freight center.
Worker representatives, which represents UPS workers, commenced the vigil with a quiet tribute at the evening hour, the rough hour of the incident before.
“This tragedy was so unexpected, so unexpected,” the mayor told the crowd of two hundred. “No one had a opportunity to part to any of those who we have said farewell to.”
