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The number of fatalities due to the UPS cargo plane that caught fire and went down has now reached 13, according to official announcements.

Mayor's Statement

While en route to the Teamsters’ candlelight gathering, I was informed of a additional fatality that passed away as a outcome of the aircraft incident,” wrote the city mayor in a public communication. “My heart is with the loved ones, associates and colleagues of all who were taken in this week’s disaster. We will overcome this collectively.”

Deceased Identified

A release from the company identified the flight crew aboard the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 as Captain Richard Wartenberg, First Officer Lee Truitt, and International Relief Officer Dana Diamond.

“Our sympathies reach out to every employee who has been affected and everyone in our local community – helping you and guaranteeing you receive the attention and resources you need is our focus,” the company’s message read.

Probe Details

Federal investigators disclosed that the freight aircraft’s port side wing caught fire and an power plant detached soon after liftoff from the airfield, causing the aircraft to crash and burst into a inferno.

The National Transportation Safety Board has said it is probing the jet’s upkeep logs, which was in Texas for repairs weeks ahead of the accident.

Aviation records indicated the plane was on the runway in that location from the start of last month to last week.

“We are aware that this plane was located in San Antonio,” stated an investigator on Thursday, without providing a exact period. “We will look at all elements of repairs that was done, even the San Antonio period, right up to the day of the journey.”

Retrieval of Critical Items

The cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder were found, and the power plant was discovered on the tarmac.

The units – known as flight recorders – were designed to survive accident forces and intense fire from fires, and they seemed to be undamaged when found within the remains. Investigators will analyzing data from the recorders.

The plane’s final recorded information displayed an elevation of that level and a speed of that speed before the impact.

Maintenance Background

According to Federal Aviation Administration files from 18 September, a fissure on a component in the tank area required fixes.

The company ST Engineering, which indicated it offers aircraft servicing for the company’s aircraft and runs a service location in San Antonio, refused to provide remarks, but expressed it would cooperate fully when relevant authorities contacted it.

Services Restart

Meanwhile, the facility activities resumed that evening with its express also known as nighttime operation, representative the company official said. Each of the three runways at Louisville Muhammad Ali international airport were additionally open again.

The distribution hub in Louisville is the company’s largest. The hub hires over twenty thousand workers in the region, handles numerous flights daily and organizes more than a huge volume of parcels per hour.

Community Support

A memorial was conducted on the late afternoon of 6 November by the regional Teamsters Union, which represents staff at the airfield, the firm’s largest freight center.

The union chapter, which stands for staff, began the vigil with a period of reflection at the evening hour, the estimated hour of the incident before.

“This tragedy was so abrupt, so unexpected,” the leader addressed the crowd of 200. “No one had a moment to part to any one of those who we have mourned.”