The total count of lives lost from the freight aircraft which burst into flames and crashed has now risen to 13, as confirmed by official announcements.
Official's Announcement
Traveling to the Teamsters’ vigil, I received word of a thirteenth victim that died as a outcome of the aircraft incident,” stated the local official in a social media post. “My thoughts is with the loved ones, friends and peers of all who were lost in this recent tragedy. We will overcome this as one.”
Casualties Identified
A release from UPS listed the flight crew aboard the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 as Pilot Richard Wartenberg, First Officer Lee Truitt, and Relief Captain Dana Diamond.
“Our sympathies reach out to all employee who has been impacted and all in our community region – supporting you and guaranteeing you obtain the support and aid you need is our focus,” the company’s statement stated.
Investigation Updates
Government investigators announced that the jet’s wing burst into flames and an engine detached just after liftoff from the aviation hub, causing the plane to plummet and explode into a blaze.
The NTSB stated it is investigating the jet’s service record, which was in the state for fixes several weeks before the incident.
Flight tracking records showed the jet was on the ground in the Texas city from early September to last week.
“We are knowledgeable that this plane was there in San Antonio,” stated an investigator on later, not giving a exact period. “We will look at every piece of repairs that was performed, from the Texas time, straight to the time of the flight.”
Findings of Key Evidence
The cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder were found, and the motor was found on the tarmac.
The units – known as black boxes – were constructed to endure crash impacts and intense temperatures from infernos, and they appeared to be in one piece when located among the wreckage. Investigators will analyzing recordings from the black boxes.
Aircraft’s concluding recorded information displayed an elevation of that level and a speed of 210 mph prior to the crash.
Maintenance Record
Per FAA records from that date, a fissure on a part in the tank area demanded fixes.
Headquartered in Singapore ST Engineering, which said it provides structural repairs for UPS’s MD-11 and manages a repair facility in San Antonio, refused to comment, but stated it would cooperate fully when relevant authorities contacted it.
Services Continue
At the same time, the hub operations restarted that evening with its Next Day Air also known as evening operation, official a representative confirmed. The three runways at the aviation hub were likewise back in operation.
The UPS package handling facility in the city is the firm’s most significant. The facility engages in excess of 20,000 workers in the locality, handles 300 aircraft daily and processes over four hundred thousand items per hour.
Public Support
A memorial was conducted on the night of 6 November by the area Teamsters Union, which acts for staff at the aviation hub, the firm’s biggest air cargo hub.
Worker representatives, which supports UPS workers, began the gathering with a period of reflection at the evening hour, the rough hour of the incident before.
“This tragedy was so sudden, so surprising,” the mayor told the crowd of two hundred. “No one had a opportunity to part to each of those who we have mourned.”
