The total count of fatalities due to the freight aircraft that ignited and went down has now risen to 13, per recent reports.
Mayor's Announcement
“On my way to the Teamsters’ memorial service, I received word of a additional fatality that lost their life as a consequence of the UPS flight 2976 accident,” stated the city mayor in a social media post. “My heart is with the families, associates and peers of all who were lost in this week’s tragedy. We will overcome this collectively.”
Deceased Named
A statement from the carrier named the flight crew aboard the aircraft as Captain Richard Wartenberg, Co-pilot Lee Truitt, and Relief Captain Dana Diamond.
“Our hearts go out to every employee who has been impacted and everyone in our local region – helping you and making sure you get the care and resources you need is our focus,” the firm’s communication stated.
Inquiry Findings
Federal investigators disclosed that the UPS cargo plane’s left wing burst into flames and an motor detached shortly after takeoff from the airfield, leading to the jet to plummet and burst into a inferno.
The NTSB stated it is probing the jet’s upkeep logs, which was in Texas for maintenance weeks ahead of the crash.
Flight tracking information revealed the plane was on the ground in San Antonio, Texas from 3 September to 18 October.
“We are knowledgeable that this aircraft was there in the facility,” stated an NTSB member on the following day, without a exact date range. “We will examine every piece of repairs that was completed, even the Texas time, straight to the time of the trip.”
Recovery of Critical Items
The pilot’s recorder and data recorder were retrieved, and the power plant was found on the airfield.
The recorders – referred to as black boxes – were designed to endure crash impacts and extreme temperatures from infernos, and they seemed to be undamaged when located among the remains. Authorities intend to reviewing data from the black boxes.
The plane’s final data recordings indicated an height of 475 ft and a speed of that speed ahead of the impact.
Maintenance Background
Based on Federal Aviation Administration documents dated last month, a crack on a structural piece within the tank area needed fixes.
Headquartered in Singapore ST Engineering, which stated it supplies aircraft servicing for UPS’s MD-11 and operates a maintenance center in Texas, declined to provide remarks, but stated it would work closely when investigators reached out it.
Activities Continue
At the same time, UPS Worldport activities restarted that evening with its express also known as nighttime procedure, spokesperson the company official confirmed. All three tarmacs at the airport were also reopened.
The distribution hub in this location is the organization’s largest. The facility hires more than twenty thousand individuals in the area, manages numerous aircraft per day and sorts over a huge volume of packages an hour.
Local Response
A candlelight vigil was conducted on the late afternoon of that date by the regional Teamsters Union, which represents staff at the aviation hub, the company’s largest air cargo hub.
Worker representatives, which represents UPS workers, began the vigil with a quiet tribute at the evening hour, the approximate hour of the accident before.
“This event was so unexpected, so surprising,” the mayor spoke to the crowd of attendees. “No one had a chance to say goodbye to each of those who we have mourned.”
