🔗 Share this article

The number of victims from the UPS cargo plane that ignited and crashed has now risen to 13, per latest statements.

City Leader's Statement

“On my way to the Workers’ vigil, I received word of a thirteenth victim that died as a consequence of the aircraft accident,” stated the city mayor in a online message. “My thoughts is with the relatives, companions and colleagues of all who were killed in this week’s tragedy. We will endure this collectively.”

Casualties Identified

A statement from the company identified the officers operating the aircraft as Captain Richard Wartenberg, Co-pilot Lee Truitt, and Relief Captain Dana Diamond.

“Our hearts go out to each staff member who has been affected and everyone in our Louisville community – assisting you and guaranteeing you get the attention and aid you need is our focus,” the firm’s statement stated.

Investigation Details

National authorities announced that the UPS cargo plane’s port side wing burst into flames and an engine detached soon after liftoff from the Louisville Muhammad Ali international airport, causing the aircraft to plummet and explode into a blaze.

The safety agency announced it is investigating the aircraft’s service record, which was in the state for repairs several weeks ahead of the accident.

Flight tracking data indicated the plane was on the tarmac in the Texas city from early September to last week.

“We are aware that this plane was located in that city,” remarked an NTSB member on the following day, without providing a specific time frame. “We will examine every piece of repairs that was performed, from the San Antonio time, all the way to the date of the flight.”

Findings of Critical Components

The pilot’s recorder and flight data recorder were recovered, and the motor was discovered on the tarmac.

The units – called black boxes – were designed to survive accident forces and severe temperatures from fires, and they seemed to be in one piece when found within the wreckage. Investigators intend to analyzing recordings from the black boxes.

The plane’s final recorded information showed an altitude of 475 ft and a speed of that speed before the accident.

Maintenance History

According to aviation authority documents dated that date, a crack on a structural piece within the tank area needed fixes.

Headquartered in Singapore ST Engineering, which indicated it supplies aircraft servicing for the company’s jet and runs a repair facility in Texas, declined to comment, but expressed it would cooperate fully when relevant authorities reached out it.

Operations Continue

Meanwhile, UPS Worldport operations restarted Wednesday night with its overnight also known as evening procedure, spokesperson the company official confirmed. Each of the three runways at Louisville Muhammad Ali international airport were also back in operation.

The distribution hub in Louisville is the firm’s biggest. The center engages more than 20,000 individuals in the area, handles 300 flights per day and organizes in excess of four hundred thousand packages each hour.

Local Reaction

A memorial was conducted on the night of 6 November by the local worker’s group, which supports employees at the aviation hub, the firm’s biggest freight center.

Worker representatives, which stands for staff, began the vigil with a period of reflection at that time, the rough time of the crash previously.

“This event was so unexpected, so unexpected,” the official spoke to the assembly of attendees. “No one had a chance to part to any of those who we have mourned.”