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The tally of fatalities resulting from the freight aircraft which caught fire and plummeted has climbed to 13, according to official announcements.

Official's Statement

While en route to the Union’s vigil, I received word of a thirteenth victim that lost their life as a outcome of the UPS flight 2976 incident,” stated the local official in a online message. “My thoughts is with the families, friends and colleagues of all who were lost in this week’s tragedy. We will overcome this collectively.”

Deceased Confirmed

A statement from UPS identified the pilots operating the aircraft as Pilot Richard Wartenberg, Co-pilot Lee Truitt, and Relief Captain Dana Diamond.

“Our thoughts reach out to each UPSer who has been touched and all in our Louisville area – assisting you and making sure you get the attention and resources you need is our priority,” the company’s message read.

Investigation Findings

Federal authorities announced that the jet’s port side wing caught fire and an engine separated shortly after takeoff from the aviation hub, resulting in the jet to fall and explode into a blaze.

The NTSB stated it is examining the jet’s service record, which was in Texas for fixes several weeks prior to the incident.

Aviation data revealed the jet was on the tarmac in the Texas city from 3 September to last week.

“We are knowledgeable that this jet was located in San Antonio,” remarked an official on the following day, without a specific time frame. “We will look at each aspect of service that was done, including the San Antonio visit, right up to the day of the flight.”

Recovery of Key Items

The audio device and data recorder were recovered, and the engine was discovered on the tarmac.

The recorders – referred to as data containers – were constructed to survive crash impacts and severe heat from blazes, and they looked to be undamaged when discovered amid the remains. Investigators intend to analyzing recordings from the black boxes.

The plane’s concluding flight details showed an elevation of 475 feet and a speed of 210 mph ahead of the accident.

Repair Record

According to FAA files dated 18 September, a crack on a part in the center wing fuel tank demanded fixes.

The company ST Engineering, which said it offers aircraft servicing for UPS’s MD-11 and runs a repair facility in San Antonio, refused to comment, but said it would work closely when investigators contacted it.

Services Continue

Meanwhile, the hub operations continued that evening with its overnight also known as evening operation, representative the company official stated. All three runways at Louisville Muhammad Ali international airport were also reopened.

The distribution hub in this location is the company’s largest. The hub employs more than twenty thousand workers in the locality, manages 300 trips daily and sorts in excess of 400,000 packages an hour.

Community Reaction

A memorial was organized on the night of that date by the area labor union, which represents staff at the aviation hub, the company’s biggest air cargo hub.

The union chapter, which supports UPS workers, started the memorial with a moment of silence at 5.14pm, the approximate moment of the crash before.

“This incident was so unexpected, so surprising,” the official addressed the assembly of attendees. “No one had a moment to part to any one of those who we have mourned.”