The number of fatalities resulting from the transport jet that ignited and plummeted has now climbed to 13, according to official reports.
City Leader's Statement
“On my way to the Teamsters’ memorial service, I was informed of a thirteenth victim that died as a result of the plane crash,” wrote the local official in a public communication. “My prayers is with the loved ones, friends and peers of all who were killed in this recent calamity. We will endure this together.”
Casualties Named
A release from UPS identified the officers operating the aircraft as Captain Richard Wartenberg, Co-pilot Lee Truitt, and Relief Captain Dana Diamond.
“Our thoughts reach out to each UPSer who has been affected and all in our local area – supporting you and guaranteeing you obtain the attention and assistance you need is our main concern,” the organization’s statement stated.
Inquiry Findings
Government authorities disclosed that the jet’s wing caught fire and an engine separated soon after takeoff from the aviation hub, leading to the aircraft to crash and burst into a blaze.
The National Transportation Safety Board has said it is probing the plane’s service record, that was in Texas for fixes weeks prior to the accident.
Flight tracking information showed the jet was on the tarmac in San Antonio, Texas from early September to last week.
“We are aware that this plane was there in San Antonio,” said an investigator on Thursday, not giving a exact date range. “We will examine each aspect of maintenance that was performed, even the Texas period, straight to the date of the flight.”
Findings of Critical Components
The cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder were found, and the motor was found on the airfield.
The devices – called data containers – were designed to survive accident forces and severe heat from fires, and they looked to be undamaged when located within the remains. Investigators will reviewing recordings from the devices.
Jet’s concluding flight details indicated an altitude of 475 feet and a rate of that speed prior to the crash.
Repair Record
Based on Federal Aviation Administration files from 18 September, a fracture on a part in the fuel container required fixes.
Headquartered in Singapore ST Engineering, which indicated it offers airframe maintenance for the company’s aircraft and operates a service location in San Antonio, chose not to speak, but stated it would assist completely when relevant authorities approached it.
Operations Resume
In the meantime, UPS Worldport activities resumed that evening with its overnight also known as evening process, representative the company official said. Each of the three runways at the aviation hub were also open again.
The UPS package handling facility in the city is the firm’s biggest. The hub hires more than twenty thousand individuals in the area, handles numerous trips per day and sorts more than 400,000 packages per hour.
Public Reaction
A memorial was conducted on the night of that date by the area labor union, which represents employees at the aviation hub, the organization’s primary air cargo hub.
Worker representatives, which represents UPS workers, started the gathering with a period of reflection at the evening hour, the approximate moment of the accident before.
“This event was so abrupt, so unexpected,” the mayor spoke to the crowd of two hundred. “No one had a opportunity to part to any one of those who we have mourned.”
