The total count of lives lost due to the freight aircraft which ignited and crashed has now reached 13, per latest reports.
Official's Statement
“On my way to the Workers’ vigil, I was informed of a thirteenth victim that passed away as a consequence of the UPS flight 2976 crash,” stated the city mayor in a public communication. “My heart are with the families, friends and peers of all who were taken in this week’s disaster. We will endure this collectively.”
Victims Named
A statement from the carrier listed the officers aboard the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 as Captain Richard Wartenberg, First Officer Lee Truitt, and International Relief Officer Dana Diamond.
“Our hearts go out to every staff member who has been impacted and all in our community region – helping you and ensuring you obtain the attention and assistance you need is our focus,” the firm’s statement stated.
Probe Findings
Federal investigators disclosed that the jet’s left wing caught fire and an motor fell off soon after departure from the airfield, leading to the jet to fall and erupt into a fireball.
The National Transportation Safety Board announced it is investigating the plane’s upkeep logs, that was in Texas for fixes weeks before the incident.
Flight tracking data showed the plane was on the ground in the Texas city from early September to last week.
“We are aware that this jet was located in San Antonio,” stated an official on Thursday, without a exact time frame. “We will look at each aspect of maintenance that was done, including the repair period, right up to the date of the trip.”
Retrieval of Vital Components
The pilot’s recorder and information unit were found, and the motor was discovered on the tarmac.
The units – called black boxes – were designed to endure accident forces and extreme fire from fires, and they appeared to be intact when discovered among the crash debris. Investigators will reviewing information from the recorders.
Jet’s last flight details displayed an altitude of that level and a speed of 210 mph prior to the accident.
Maintenance History
Per aviation authority documents dated last month, a fracture on a part inside the tank area demanded repairs.
Singapore-based ST Engineering, which said it offers aircraft servicing for the company’s MD-11 and manages a repair facility in Texas, declined to comment, but expressed it would work closely when officials approached it.
Activities Resume
In the meantime, UPS Worldport services continued that evening with its Next Day Air or evening operation, representative the company official stated. The three runways at the aviation hub were likewise back in operation.
The sorting center in the city is the company’s most significant. The center engages over 20,000 workers in the area, handles three hundred trips each day and processes over 400,000 parcels each hour.
Local Reaction
A gathering was held on the late afternoon of recently by the local worker’s group, which supports staff at the airfield, the firm’s largest shipping facility.
Teamsters Local 89, which supports staff, started the memorial with a moment of silence at that time, the approximate moment of the incident two days earlier.
“This tragedy was so abrupt, so unexpected,” the official addressed the group of attendees. “No one had a moment to say goodbye to any of those who we have mourned.”
