The total count of victims resulting from the UPS cargo plane which caught fire and crashed has now risen to 13, according to recent announcements.
City Leader's Statement
Traveling to the Union’s vigil, I received word of a 13th person that died as a result of the UPS flight 2976 accident,” stated the municipal leader in a social media post. “My prayers is with the loved ones, companions and co-workers of all who were killed in this week’s tragedy. We will get through this together.”
Casualties Confirmed
A release from UPS named the officers on board the jet as Captain Richard Wartenberg, First Officer Lee Truitt, and Relief Captain Dana Diamond.
“Our hearts are extended to each staff member who has been affected and everyone in our community region – helping you and ensuring you get the care and aid you need is our main concern,” the company’s communication stated.
Investigation Findings
National officials announced that the UPS cargo plane’s left wing ignited and an motor separated just after takeoff from the airfield, resulting in the plane to plummet and explode into a inferno.
The National Transportation Safety Board announced it is probing the jet’s maintenance history, which was in Texas for maintenance weeks prior to the incident.
Aircraft information revealed the jet was on the runway in the Texas city from the start of last month to mid-October.
“We are aware that this plane was there in San Antonio,” remarked an investigator on the following day, without providing a precise date range. “We will look at every piece of service that was done, including the Texas period, straight to the day of the trip.”
Findings of Key Evidence
The cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder were recovered, and the power plant was discovered on the tarmac.
The units – referred to as flight recorders – were built to withstand accident forces and severe fire from infernos, and they appeared to be undamaged when located within the wreckage. Authorities intend to examining information from the devices.
The plane’s final recorded information indicated an altitude of that level and a velocity of 210 mph prior to the impact.
Service History
Based on aviation authority files from that date, a fracture on a part in the tank area needed maintenance.
The company ST Engineering, which said it supplies structural repairs for UPS’s MD-11 and runs a maintenance center in San Antonio, declined to provide remarks, but expressed it would assist completely when relevant authorities approached it.
Services Continue
At the same time, the hub services restarted last night with its overnight or nighttime operation, representative Jim Mayer said. All three runways at the airport were also open again.
The distribution hub in the city is the organization’s biggest. The center employs in excess of a large number of individuals in the locality, manages numerous trips daily and organizes over 400,000 packages each hour.
Local Reaction
A candlelight vigil was conducted on the evening of recently by the area worker’s group, which supports staff at the aviation hub, the organization’s biggest shipping facility.
The union chapter, which represents staff, started the memorial with a moment of silence at that time, the estimated time of the crash two days earlier.
“This tragedy was so abrupt, so unforeseen,” the official addressed the crowd of 200. “No one had a moment to part to any one of those who we have mourned.”
