The total count of victims from the transport jet which ignited and crashed has now climbed to 13, as confirmed by latest announcements.
City Leader's Statement
Traveling to the Workers’ candlelight gathering, I received word of a thirteenth victim that passed away as a consequence of the aircraft accident,” wrote the local official in a public communication. “My heart are with the relatives, companions and colleagues of all who were killed in this week’s disaster. We will get through this together.”
Casualties Named
An announcement from UPS identified the flight crew aboard the aircraft as Pilot Richard Wartenberg, First Officer Lee Truitt, and International Relief Officer Dana Diamond.
“Our hearts go out to all employee who has been touched and all in our community community – helping you and making sure you get the care and resources you need is our focus,” the company’s communication read.
Investigation Findings
Federal investigators announced that the UPS cargo plane’s port side wing burst into flames and an power plant fell off just after takeoff from the aviation hub, leading to the aircraft to crash and explode into a blaze.
The National Transportation Safety Board announced it is investigating the plane’s maintenance history, which was in Texas for maintenance a period ahead of the accident.
Aircraft data showed the plane was on the ground in San Antonio, Texas from 3 September to mid-October.
“We are aware that this aircraft was there in San Antonio,” stated an official on later, without providing a exact date range. “We will examine each aspect of repairs that was done, even the San Antonio time, right up to the time of the flight.”
Retrieval of Critical Items
The pilot’s recorder and flight data recorder were retrieved, and the power plant was located on the tarmac.
The devices – referred to as black boxes – were built to survive accident forces and intense heat from fires, and they appeared to be in one piece when found within the remains. Investigators will examining information from the black boxes.
Jet’s last data recordings displayed an elevation of that level and a velocity of 210 mph prior to the crash.
Repair Record
Based on FAA records from 18 September, a fissure on a part in the center wing fuel tank demanded repairs.
Headquartered in Singapore ST Engineering, which stated it supplies airframe maintenance for the carrier’s aircraft and operates a repair facility in that city, refused to speak, but stated it would cooperate fully when relevant authorities reached out it.
Services Resume
At the same time, the facility activities resumed that evening with its Next Day Air or night sort process, spokesperson a representative confirmed. Each of the three landing strips at the airport were also open again.
The UPS package handling facility in the city is the organization’s most significant. The hub employs more than 20,000 workers in the region, processes 300 aircraft per day and organizes over four hundred thousand parcels per hour.
Community Reaction
A memorial was held on the late afternoon of that date by the local labor union, which acts for workers at the Louisville airport, the firm’s largest freight center.
Teamsters Local 89, which supports employees, began the gathering with a moment of silence at that time, the rough time of the incident before.
“This tragedy was so abrupt, so unexpected,” the mayor addressed the assembly of attendees. “No one had a moment to bid farewell to any of those who we have mourned.”
