The number of victims from the UPS cargo plane which caught fire and went down has reached 13, as confirmed by official reports.
Official's Statement
While en route to the Teamsters’ candlelight gathering, I received word of a thirteenth victim that died as a result of the plane incident,” stated the municipal leader in a social media post. “My prayers is with the relatives, friends and co-workers of all who were killed in this recent disaster. We will get through this collectively.”
Deceased Confirmed
An announcement from the company named the pilots aboard the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 as Captain Richard Wartenberg, First Officer Lee Truitt, and International Relief Officer Dana Diamond.
“Our hearts reach out to every employee who has been affected and everyone in our local community – helping you and ensuring you receive the attention and assistance you need is our priority,” the firm’s communication expressed.
Investigation Updates
Federal authorities disclosed that the jet’s port side wing ignited and an engine separated shortly after departure from the airfield, resulting in the plane to crash and erupt into a blaze.
The National Transportation Safety Board stated it is probing the jet’s upkeep logs, that was in Texas for repairs weeks before the accident.
Aircraft records showed the aircraft was on the runway in the Texas city from the start of last month to mid-October.
“We are knowledgeable that this jet was there in the facility,” remarked an investigator on the following day, without providing a exact time frame. “We will examine every piece of service that was performed, including the San Antonio period, straight to the day of the trip.”
Retrieval of Vital Items
The cockpit voice recorder and data recorder were recovered, and the engine was found on the airfield.
The units – called data containers – were built to withstand crash impacts and extreme temperatures from infernos, and they seemed to be intact when found among the crash debris. Authorities will reviewing recordings from the black boxes.
Aircraft’s last recorded information showed an height of 475 feet and a speed of 210 mph prior to the impact.
Repair Record
Based on Federal Aviation Administration files from 18 September, a crack on a component in the fuel container demanded maintenance.
The company ST Engineering, which stated it provides aircraft servicing for the company’s aircraft and manages a service location in San Antonio, chose not to comment, but said it would cooperate fully when investigators contacted it.
Services Continue
In the meantime, the facility services restarted Wednesday night with its express or nighttime process, spokesperson the company official stated. The three runways at the aviation hub were likewise reopened.
The sorting center in the city is the company’s most significant. The center hires over 20,000 people in the locality, handles 300 aircraft daily and processes more than a huge volume of items an hour.
Local Reaction
A gathering was held on the night of recently by the area Teamsters Union, which acts for staff at the aviation hub, the organization’s primary air cargo hub.
Teamsters Local 89, which represents UPS workers, began the memorial with a moment of silence at the evening hour, the approximate time of the incident two days earlier.
“This tragedy was so unexpected, so surprising,” the leader told the crowd of two hundred. “No one had a opportunity to part to each of those who we have mourned.”
