The number of lives lost resulting from the freight aircraft that ignited and crashed has risen to 13, per official statements.
City Leader's Announcement
“On my way to the Teamsters’ vigil, I received word of a thirteenth victim that lost their life as a result of the aircraft accident,” wrote the city mayor in a online message. “My thoughts is with the loved ones, friends and peers of all who were lost in this recently occurred disaster. We will overcome this as one.”
Casualties Confirmed
An announcement from UPS listed the pilots aboard the jet as Captain Richard Wartenberg, Co-pilot Lee Truitt, and Relief Captain Dana Diamond.
“Our hearts are extended to all UPSer who has been touched and everyone in our local region – supporting you and ensuring you receive the care and assistance you need is our focus,” the company’s communication read.
Probe Updates
Government investigators revealed that the jet’s port side wing caught fire and an engine fell off just after takeoff from the airfield, causing the aircraft to fall and burst into a inferno.
The NTSB announced it is investigating the plane’s service record, which was in the state for maintenance a period prior to the accident.
Aircraft records revealed the jet was on the tarmac in the Texas city from the start of last month to mid-October.
“We are knowledgeable that this jet was there in San Antonio,” stated an official on Thursday, not giving a specific date range. “We will examine all elements of maintenance that was done, even the Texas visit, all the way to the date of the journey.”
Recovery of Critical Components
The pilot’s recorder and flight data recorder were found, and the power plant was discovered on the airfield.
The units – referred to as data containers – were designed to withstand crash impacts and extreme heat from infernos, and they appeared to be intact when found within the wreckage. Investigators intend to examining recordings from the devices.
Jet’s final data recordings displayed an elevation of 475 ft and a rate of 210 mph before the impact.
Maintenance Record
Per Federal Aviation Administration files dated last month, a crack on a structural piece inside the center wing fuel tank needed fixes.
Headquartered in Singapore ST Engineering, which said it provides airframe maintenance for UPS’s MD-11 and manages a maintenance center in Texas, refused to speak, but said it would work closely when officials approached it.
Activities Continue
In the meantime, the facility activities continued last night with its express or night sort operation, representative a representative stated. Each of the three runways at the airport were also open again.
The UPS package handling facility in the city is the organization’s biggest. The hub hires in excess of a large number of individuals in the area, handles 300 flights daily and sorts in excess of four hundred thousand packages each hour.
Local Support
A candlelight vigil was held on the evening of 6 November by the area labor union, which represents workers at the airfield, the firm’s primary shipping facility.
Teamsters Local 89, which supports staff, began the memorial with a period of reflection at the evening hour, the estimated time of the incident two days earlier.
“This incident was so abrupt, so unforeseen,” the mayor told the assembly of two hundred. “No one had a chance to say goodbye to any one of those who we have said farewell to.”
