The number of victims due to the UPS cargo plane that burst into flames and went down has now reached 13, per official reports.
Mayor's Statement
Traveling to the Workers’ vigil, I learned of a additional fatality that lost their life as a result of the UPS flight 2976 incident,” stated the municipal leader in a public communication. “My heart are with the relatives, friends and co-workers of all who were taken in this recent disaster. We will endure this as one.”
Victims Named
A statement from UPS named the flight crew on board the aircraft as Captain Richard Wartenberg, Co-pilot Lee Truitt, and International Relief Officer Dana Diamond.
“Our thoughts go out to each employee who has been impacted and everyone in our local area – helping you and guaranteeing you obtain the support and resources you need is our main concern,” the firm’s message expressed.
Investigation Details
National investigators revealed that the UPS cargo plane’s wing burst into flames and an power plant fell off just after takeoff from the aviation hub, resulting in the jet to fall and erupt into a blaze.
The National Transportation Safety Board announced it is probing the jet’s service record, that was in the state for maintenance weeks before the incident.
Flight tracking data indicated the plane was on the tarmac in San Antonio, Texas from 3 September to 18 October.
“We are knowledgeable that this aircraft was present in San Antonio,” stated an investigator on later, not giving a precise date range. “We will review each aspect of service that was done, including the Texas period, all the way to the day of the flight.”
Findings of Key Components
The cockpit voice recorder and information unit were recovered, and the engine was found on the airfield.
The units – called flight recorders – were built to withstand accident forces and intense temperatures from fires, and they looked to be intact when located within the remains. Investigators plan on analyzing information from the black boxes.
Aircraft’s final recorded information showed an elevation of 475 feet and a rate of 210 miles per hour before the impact.
Service History
Per aviation authority documents from that date, a crack on a component within the fuel container needed fixes.
The company ST Engineering, which said it supplies aircraft servicing for the carrier’s jet and runs a repair facility in San Antonio, chose not to provide remarks, but said it would cooperate fully when officials contacted it.
Services Continue
At the same time, the hub activities continued Wednesday night with its Next Day Air or evening operation, representative the company official said. The three runways at the aviation hub were additionally back in operation.
The distribution hub in the city is the organization’s most significant. The center employs more than 20,000 individuals in the area, processes 300 aircraft daily and sorts in excess of 400,000 items an hour.
Public Response
A gathering was conducted on the late afternoon of that date by the regional Teamsters Union, which represents employees at the aviation hub, the company’s largest shipping facility.
Teamsters Local 89, which supports employees, started the vigil with a period of reflection at the evening hour, the rough time of the incident previously.
“This incident was so sudden, so surprising,” the leader addressed the crowd of 200. “No one had a moment to say goodbye to each of those who we have lost.”
