The total count of lives lost due to the UPS cargo plane that caught fire and crashed has reached 13, as confirmed by official statements.
Mayor's Announcement
While en route to the Workers’ candlelight gathering, I was informed of a 13th person that lost their life as a result of the plane accident,” stated the local official in a online message. “My thoughts is with the loved ones, associates and peers of all who were killed in this recently occurred disaster. We will get through this as one.”
Casualties Identified
An announcement from the carrier named the flight crew operating the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 as Pilot Richard Wartenberg, First Officer Lee Truitt, and International Relief Officer Dana Diamond.
“Our thoughts reach out to every UPSer who has been affected and all in our local region – assisting you and ensuring you obtain the attention and resources you need is our main concern,” the firm’s statement read.
Investigation Findings
Government investigators revealed that the UPS cargo plane’s port side wing caught fire and an motor fell off shortly after liftoff from the aviation hub, causing the jet to plummet and burst into a blaze.
The safety agency announced it is examining the aircraft’s maintenance history, which was in Texas for maintenance several weeks ahead of the crash.
Aircraft records indicated the jet was on the ground in that location from the start of last month to last week.
“We are knowledgeable that this aircraft was located in San Antonio,” said an NTSB member on later, not giving a precise time frame. “We will examine every piece of service that was done, including the San Antonio period, right up to the date of the flight.”
Retrieval of Critical Evidence
The cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder were retrieved, and the power plant was discovered on the tarmac.
The units – referred to as black boxes – were designed to survive crash impacts and intense fire from infernos, and they looked to be intact when found within the crash debris. Investigators plan on reviewing information from the recorders.
Jet’s concluding recorded information displayed an height of that level and a rate of 210 mph before the impact.
Maintenance History
Based on FAA records dated that date, a crack on a part in the tank area needed repairs.
Headquartered in Singapore ST Engineering, which indicated it provides airframe maintenance for the company’s MD-11 and manages a repair facility in Texas, chose not to provide remarks, but expressed it would assist completely when officials contacted it.
Operations Resume
In the meantime, the hub operations restarted that evening with its express also known as evening operation, official a representative stated. All three runways at the aviation hub were also back in operation.
The distribution hub in this location is the company’s most significant. The facility employs in excess of 20,000 individuals in the region, handles 300 flights daily and organizes over 400,000 parcels per hour.
Community Response
A gathering was organized on the evening of that date by the local worker’s group, which acts for employees at the airfield, the firm’s primary shipping facility.
The union chapter, which represents staff, started the gathering with a moment of silence at 5.14pm, the approximate hour of the crash before.
“This tragedy was so abrupt, so unforeseen,” the official addressed the crowd of attendees. “No one had a moment to part to each of those who we have mourned.”
