The tally of victims from the freight aircraft which caught fire and plummeted has climbed to 13, as confirmed by latest announcements.
Official's Announcement
“On my way to the Union’s vigil, I learned of a additional fatality that died as a outcome of the plane crash,” wrote the city mayor in a social media post. “My heart is with the families, companions and peers of all who were killed in this week’s tragedy. We will get through this as one.”
Victims Confirmed
An announcement from UPS listed the flight crew aboard the jet as Pilot Richard Wartenberg, First Officer Lee Truitt, and International Relief Officer Dana Diamond.
“Our thoughts reach out to all employee who has been touched and all in our local region – assisting you and guaranteeing you get the attention and assistance you need is our main concern,” the company’s statement read.
Inquiry Updates
Government officials revealed that the freight aircraft’s port side wing ignited and an power plant fell off soon after liftoff from the airfield, causing the aircraft to plummet and erupt into a blaze.
The NTSB has said it is probing the plane’s maintenance history, which was in the state for maintenance weeks before the crash.
Aviation records revealed the jet was on the tarmac in San Antonio, Texas from early September to mid-October.
“We are cognizant that this jet was present in San Antonio,” remarked an investigator on Thursday, not giving a specific time frame. “We will examine all elements of service that was done, even the San Antonio period, all the way to the date of the trip.”
Retrieval of Vital Evidence
The cockpit voice recorder and information unit were recovered, and the power plant was found on the airfield.
The devices – known as data containers – were built to withstand crash impacts and intense fire from fires, and they looked to be intact when discovered amid the remains. Authorities will examining recordings from the recorders.
The plane’s final flight details displayed an height of 475 ft and a speed of 210 miles per hour before the accident.
Maintenance Record
According to aviation authority files dated that date, a crack on a structural piece within the tank area needed maintenance.
The company ST Engineering, which stated it supplies airframe maintenance for the carrier’s aircraft and runs a service location in San Antonio, declined to comment, but said it would cooperate fully when relevant authorities reached out it.
Operations Continue
At the same time, the facility operations restarted last night with its overnight or night sort process, spokesperson Jim Mayer confirmed. The three runways at the aviation hub were likewise reopened.
The UPS package handling facility in the city is the firm’s most significant. The center employs in excess of 20,000 workers in the locality, handles 300 flights each day and processes in excess of 400,000 parcels per hour.
Community Support
A gathering was conducted on the late afternoon of that date by the area Teamsters Union, which supports workers at the airfield, the company’s primary air cargo hub.
Worker representatives, which stands for UPS workers, began the vigil with a moment of silence at 5.14pm, the approximate hour of the incident before.
“This tragedy was so abrupt, so surprising,” the official spoke to the crowd of attendees. “No one had a moment to say goodbye to any one of those who we have lost.”