The number of lives lost due to the freight aircraft which caught fire and crashed has now risen to 13, as confirmed by official reports.
Mayor's Statement
“On my way to the Teamsters’ memorial service, I learned of a 13th person that died as a consequence of the UPS flight 2976 incident,” stated the local official in a social media post. “My prayers are with the relatives, companions and peers of all who were taken in this recently occurred calamity. We will endure this as one.”
Victims Named
A release from the company named the pilots aboard the jet as Captain Richard Wartenberg, Co-pilot Lee Truitt, and Relief Captain Dana Diamond.
“Our hearts reach out to each UPSer who has been affected and all in our community region – helping you and ensuring you receive the attention and aid you need is our main concern,” the company’s communication read.
Inquiry Findings
Government authorities announced that the jet’s wing ignited and an motor fell off soon after liftoff from the aviation hub, leading to the jet to fall and erupt into a inferno.
The NTSB stated it is investigating the aircraft’s service record, that was in the state for maintenance several weeks before the accident.
Aircraft records showed the jet was on the ground in that location from 3 September to mid-October.
“We are knowledgeable that this jet was there in San Antonio,” remarked an NTSB member on later, not giving a precise time frame. “We will examine every piece of maintenance that was done, including the San Antonio visit, straight to the time of the journey.”
Findings of Key Evidence
The cockpit voice recorder and data recorder were found, and the power plant was discovered on the airfield.
The recorders – called data containers – were constructed to survive collision damage and severe temperatures from fires, and they seemed to be in one piece when discovered within the remains. Authorities intend to analyzing data from the devices.
Jet’s last recorded information indicated an altitude of that level and a rate of that speed ahead of the accident.
Repair Record
According to aviation authority files from 18 September, a crack on a part in the tank area demanded fixes.
Headquartered in Singapore ST Engineering, which stated it supplies airframe maintenance for the company’s aircraft and manages a repair facility in Texas, refused to provide remarks, but expressed it would cooperate fully when relevant authorities reached out it.
Activities Continue
In the meantime, UPS Worldport operations resumed that evening with its overnight or nighttime process, official Jim Mayer said. All three runways at the airport were likewise back in operation.
The distribution hub in the city is the company’s biggest. The center hires more than a large number of people in the region, processes three hundred trips daily and organizes in excess of 400,000 parcels per hour.
Community Response
A gathering was held on the evening of recently by the local labor union, which acts for staff at the airfield, the company’s biggest shipping facility.
The union chapter, which stands for UPS workers, started the memorial with a period of reflection at that time, the rough moment of the accident previously.
“This tragedy was so unexpected, so unforeseen,” the leader told the group of attendees. “No one had a chance to part to any one of those who we have lost.”
