The total count of fatalities from the freight aircraft that caught fire and went down has now risen to 13, per official announcements.
City Leader's Remarks
Traveling to the Teamsters’ vigil, I was informed of a additional fatality that died as a result of the UPS flight 2976 accident,” stated the municipal leader in a public communication. “My prayers are with the families, friends and peers of all who were lost in this recently occurred calamity. We will endure this as one.”
Victims Confirmed
A statement from the company identified the flight crew operating the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 as Pilot Richard Wartenberg, First Officer Lee Truitt, and Relief Captain Dana Diamond.
“Our hearts are extended to all staff member who has been touched and all in our community region – assisting you and ensuring you get the support and aid you need is our focus,” the firm’s communication expressed.
Inquiry Findings
National authorities announced that the freight aircraft’s left wing ignited and an motor detached shortly after liftoff from the airfield, leading to the aircraft to plummet and explode into a blaze.
The National Transportation Safety Board announced it is examining the jet’s maintenance history, that was in the state for maintenance several weeks prior to the crash.
Flight tracking data showed the aircraft was on the runway in that location from the start of last month to last week.
“We are aware that this aircraft was there in San Antonio,” said an investigator on Thursday, without a specific date range. “We will examine each aspect of repairs that was done, even the repair period, right up to the time of the flight.”
Recovery of Vital Evidence
The cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder were retrieved, and the power plant was discovered on the airfield.
The recorders – known as data containers – were built to withstand crash impacts and extreme temperatures from blazes, and they seemed to be undamaged when located among the remains. Officials will analyzing information from the black boxes.
Aircraft’s final recorded information displayed an altitude of 475 ft and a velocity of 210 miles per hour prior to the crash.
Repair Record
Per FAA files from that date, a crack on a component in the fuel container needed maintenance.
Headquartered in Singapore ST Engineering, which said it supplies structural repairs for UPS’s MD-11 and runs a repair facility in that city, refused to speak, but expressed it would work closely when investigators approached it.
Activities Continue
In the meantime, the hub activities continued that evening with its express or evening operation, spokesperson Jim Mayer stated. The three runways at the airport were additionally reopened.
The UPS package handling facility in this location is the company’s most significant. The hub hires in excess of twenty thousand individuals in the locality, handles three hundred flights daily and organizes in excess of 400,000 packages an hour.
Public Response
A gathering was conducted on the night of that date by the local worker’s group, which supports staff at the airfield, the company’s biggest freight center.
Teamsters Local 89, which represents employees, started the memorial with a period of reflection at that time, the rough time of the crash before.
“This incident was so sudden, so unexpected,” the official addressed the assembly of 200. “No one had a opportunity to bid farewell to any of those who we have lost.”
