The number of victims due to the freight aircraft that ignited and plummeted has reached 13, as confirmed by latest statements.
Mayor's Announcement
Traveling to the Teamsters’ candlelight gathering, I learned of a additional fatality that died as a consequence of the plane accident,” stated the local official in a social media post. “My heart is with the loved ones, friends and co-workers of all who were lost in this recently occurred disaster. We will overcome this collectively.”
Casualties Identified
An announcement from UPS listed the officers operating the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 as Pilot Richard Wartenberg, First Officer Lee Truitt, and International Relief Officer Dana Diamond.
“Our sympathies go out to all employee who has been touched and all in our community community – supporting you and making sure you get the care and resources you need is our focus,” the company’s communication read.
Investigation Updates
National investigators announced that the freight aircraft’s port side wing burst into flames and an motor fell off shortly after liftoff from the aviation hub, causing the plane to plummet and erupt into a inferno.
The NTSB announced it is investigating the jet’s maintenance history, which was in Texas for maintenance a period ahead of the incident.
Flight tracking records showed the plane was on the runway in that location from early September to mid-October.
“We are knowledgeable that this aircraft was there in San Antonio,” stated an official on the following day, without a exact time frame. “We will review every piece of maintenance that was completed, including the San Antonio period, all the way to the date of the flight.”
Recovery of Vital Items
The audio device and flight data recorder were found, and the motor was located on the tarmac.
The units – referred to as flight recorders – were constructed to survive collision damage and intense fire from infernos, and they appeared to be undamaged when located amid the wreckage. Officials intend to analyzing recordings from the devices.
Aircraft’s last recorded information indicated an altitude of 475 ft and a rate of that speed ahead of the impact.
Maintenance Record
According to FAA documents from that date, a fracture on a structural piece within the fuel container demanded repairs.
Headquartered in Singapore ST Engineering, which indicated it provides aircraft servicing for UPS’s aircraft and manages a service location in that city, declined to comment, but expressed it would cooperate fully when relevant authorities reached out it.
Activities Restart
At the same time, the hub operations restarted last night with its Next Day Air or night sort procedure, representative the company official said. The three tarmacs at the airport were additionally back in operation.
The distribution hub in this location is the firm’s most significant. The center employs over twenty thousand workers in the locality, handles numerous aircraft each day and sorts over a huge volume of packages an hour.
Local Reaction
A gathering was conducted on the evening of that date by the regional labor union, which acts for workers at the aviation hub, the firm’s largest shipping facility.
Teamsters Local 89, which stands for employees, commenced the vigil with a period of reflection at the evening hour, the rough hour of the incident two days earlier.
“This incident was so sudden, so unforeseen,” the leader addressed the crowd of 200. “No one had a moment to part to any of those who we have lost.”
