The total count of victims from the UPS cargo plane that ignited and plummeted has now reached 13, according to official statements.
City Leader's Remarks
While en route to the Teamsters’ vigil, I learned of a thirteenth victim that died as a outcome of the plane crash,” expressed the municipal leader in a social media post. “My thoughts is with the families, associates and colleagues of all who were killed in this week’s disaster. We will overcome this collectively.”
Deceased Named
A release from the company identified the flight crew operating the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 as Captain Richard Wartenberg, Co-pilot Lee Truitt, and International Relief Officer Dana Diamond.
“Our hearts reach out to every employee who has been touched and everyone in our local area – supporting you and guaranteeing you receive the care and assistance you need is our priority,” the company’s communication stated.
Probe Details
Federal investigators announced that the freight aircraft’s port side wing ignited and an motor detached soon after departure from the aviation hub, leading to the plane to fall and explode into a fireball.
The NTSB has said it is investigating the plane’s upkeep logs, which was in the state for maintenance weeks ahead of the incident.
Aviation records indicated the plane was on the ground in San Antonio, Texas from early September to mid-October.
“We are aware that this aircraft was present in San Antonio,” remarked an NTSB member on Thursday, without providing a exact date range. “We will examine every piece of repairs that was done, including the San Antonio time, all the way to the day of the journey.”
Retrieval of Critical Components
The pilot’s recorder and data recorder were found, and the motor was located on the runway.
The devices – known as black boxes – were built to survive collision damage and extreme fire from fires, and they looked to be intact when found amid the remains. Investigators intend to reviewing information from the devices.
Jet’s final data recordings displayed an altitude of that level and a rate of that speed ahead of the impact.
Repair History
Based on Federal Aviation Administration documents from that date, a fissure on a part within the tank area required fixes.
Singapore-based ST Engineering, which said it provides aircraft servicing for the company’s aircraft and operates a repair facility in San Antonio, chose not to provide remarks, but stated it would work closely when relevant authorities contacted it.
Services Restart
In the meantime, UPS Worldport operations continued Wednesday night with its Next Day Air or night sort process, official the company official stated. Each of the three tarmacs at the aviation hub were additionally reopened.
The sorting center in this location is the organization’s most significant. The facility engages over a large number of individuals in the area, handles three hundred flights each day and sorts over 400,000 parcels each hour.
Public Response
A memorial was organized on the evening of that date by the regional Teamsters Union, which supports workers at the airfield, the organization’s biggest freight center.
Teamsters Local 89, which supports employees, started the vigil with a moment of silence at the evening hour, the rough moment of the crash two days earlier.
“This tragedy was so unexpected, so unforeseen,” the mayor spoke to the crowd of attendees. “No one had a opportunity to part to any one of those who we have lost.”
