The total count of fatalities resulting from the freight aircraft that caught fire and went down has now reached 13, according to recent reports.
Official's Announcement
While en route to the Teamsters’ candlelight gathering, I was informed of a additional fatality that lost their life as a result of the UPS flight 2976 incident,” wrote the municipal leader in a social media post. “My thoughts is with the relatives, companions and co-workers of all who were killed in this week’s calamity. We will get through this collectively.”
Victims Confirmed
An announcement from UPS identified the pilots operating the aircraft as Captain Richard Wartenberg, First Officer Lee Truitt, and Relief Captain Dana Diamond.
“Our sympathies reach out to every UPSer who has been touched and everyone in our community community – helping you and making sure you obtain the attention and aid you need is our main concern,” the company’s statement read.
Investigation Updates
Federal investigators disclosed that the UPS cargo plane’s port side wing caught fire and an engine detached shortly after liftoff from the aviation hub, leading to the jet to fall and erupt into a inferno.
The NTSB announced it is examining the aircraft’s upkeep logs, that was in the state for fixes a period prior to the incident.
Aviation records indicated the aircraft was on the tarmac in that location from early September to last week.
“We are knowledgeable that this plane was there in San Antonio,” said an official on Thursday, without a precise date range. “We will examine all elements of service that was performed, including the San Antonio time, right up to the day of the flight.”
Findings of Critical Evidence
The cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder were recovered, and the engine was found on the tarmac.
The recorders – known as black boxes – were constructed to endure collision damage and intense heat from blazes, and they appeared to be undamaged when discovered among the wreckage. Investigators intend to analyzing data from the recorders.
Jet’s concluding flight details showed an height of that level and a rate of that speed ahead of the accident.
Maintenance Background
Per FAA records from last month, a crack on a component inside the fuel container required maintenance.
Headquartered in Singapore ST Engineering, which said it offers aircraft servicing for the company’s aircraft and manages a maintenance center in Texas, refused to speak, but stated it would work closely when officials approached it.
Operations Continue
In the meantime, UPS Worldport services continued Wednesday night with its Next Day Air or night sort operation, official a representative confirmed. The three runways at the airport were additionally open again.
The UPS package handling facility in this location is the company’s most significant. The hub hires more than a large number of workers in the area, processes 300 aircraft daily and organizes more than 400,000 parcels per hour.
Local Response
A memorial was organized on the night of that date by the regional Teamsters Union, which supports staff at the aviation hub, the firm’s biggest air cargo hub.
Worker representatives, which supports employees, commenced the gathering with a quiet tribute at that time, the approximate moment of the crash two days earlier.
“This event was so unexpected, so unforeseen,” the leader spoke to the crowd of two hundred. “No one had a chance to bid farewell to any one of those who we have lost.”
