The total count of fatalities from the freight aircraft which burst into flames and crashed has now climbed to 13, according to latest reports.
Mayor's Statement
While en route to the Workers’ candlelight gathering, I was informed of a thirteenth victim that passed away as a result of the UPS flight 2976 incident,” expressed the local official in a social media post. “My thoughts are with the families, associates and colleagues of all who were taken in this recently occurred calamity. We will get through this as one.”
Victims Confirmed
A release from UPS named the officers aboard the aircraft as Pilot Richard Wartenberg, Co-pilot Lee Truitt, and Relief Captain Dana Diamond.
“Our hearts reach out to every UPSer who has been impacted and all in our local area – supporting you and guaranteeing you receive the care and aid you need is our priority,” the organization’s communication read.
Investigation Updates
Government officials revealed that the jet’s left wing burst into flames and an engine separated soon after liftoff from the aviation hub, resulting in the aircraft to plummet and explode into a inferno.
The NTSB has said it is examining the aircraft’s upkeep logs, that was in the state for repairs weeks prior to the accident.
Aviation records revealed the aircraft was on the tarmac in the Texas city from 3 September to mid-October.
“We are cognizant that this aircraft was there in that city,” said an official on Thursday, without a exact period. “We will look at every piece of maintenance that was done, from the San Antonio visit, all the way to the date of the journey.”
Recovery of Vital Items
The pilot’s recorder and data recorder were found, and the engine was discovered on the tarmac.
The units – known as data containers – were designed to survive crash impacts and extreme fire from infernos, and they appeared to be intact when located within the remains. Authorities plan on analyzing data from the devices.
Jet’s last data recordings indicated an elevation of 475 ft and a rate of 210 miles per hour ahead of the accident.
Repair Record
According to aviation authority records dated last month, a fracture on a component in the fuel container demanded fixes.
Singapore-based ST Engineering, which said it provides airframe maintenance for the company’s aircraft and runs a repair facility in San Antonio, chose not to speak, but expressed it would work closely when investigators contacted it.
Activities Restart
Meanwhile, UPS Worldport services restarted that evening with its overnight or nighttime process, official the company official said. All three runways at the aviation hub were likewise open again.
The distribution hub in the city is the company’s largest. The hub hires more than a large number of people in the locality, processes numerous flights per day and sorts in excess of 400,000 parcels per hour.
Community Support
A candlelight vigil was conducted on the late afternoon of 6 November by the local Teamsters Union, which acts for workers at the aviation hub, the organization’s primary shipping facility.
Teamsters Local 89, which represents staff, started the memorial with a moment of silence at the evening hour, the rough hour of the crash two days earlier.
“This tragedy was so abrupt, so unexpected,” the official addressed the group of attendees. “No one had a chance to say goodbye to any one of those who we have lost.”
