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The total count of lives lost resulting from the freight aircraft which burst into flames and plummeted has risen to 13, per recent announcements.

Mayor's Announcement

“On my way to the Teamsters’ candlelight gathering, I learned of a additional fatality that lost their life as a consequence of the UPS flight 2976 crash,” stated the local official in a public communication. “My thoughts is with the families, associates and peers of all who were lost in this recent tragedy. We will get through this together.”

Victims Identified

A statement from the carrier identified the officers on board the jet as Captain Richard Wartenberg, Co-pilot Lee Truitt, and Relief Captain Dana Diamond.

“Our hearts go out to all employee who has been impacted and everyone in our local area – helping you and guaranteeing you obtain the care and aid you need is our main concern,” the organization’s statement expressed.

Inquiry Details

Government officials announced that the jet’s wing caught fire and an power plant fell off just after departure from the airfield, leading to the plane to plummet and erupt into a fireball.

The NTSB has said it is probing the plane’s maintenance history, which was in Texas for repairs a period prior to the crash.

Aircraft information indicated the plane was on the tarmac in San Antonio, Texas from the start of last month to mid-October.

“We are aware that this jet was present in the facility,” remarked an NTSB member on Thursday, without a exact date range. “We will examine all elements of service that was completed, including the Texas time, all the way to the date of the trip.”

Recovery of Critical Items

The pilot’s recorder and data recorder were recovered, and the motor was discovered on the airfield.

The devices – called flight recorders – were built to survive collision damage and extreme fire from blazes, and they appeared to be undamaged when discovered among the crash debris. Investigators intend to examining recordings from the devices.

Aircraft’s last recorded information showed an height of 475 ft and a velocity of 210 miles per hour ahead of the accident.

Repair Record

Per aviation authority documents dated 18 September, a crack on a part inside the center wing fuel tank required maintenance.

Headquartered in Singapore ST Engineering, which indicated it provides airframe maintenance for the carrier’s MD-11 and runs a service location in that city, chose not to speak, but stated it would cooperate fully when relevant authorities reached out it.

Activities Continue

Meanwhile, the facility activities continued Wednesday night with its Next Day Air also known as nighttime process, representative the company official said. All three landing strips at the airport were also open again.

The distribution hub in the city is the company’s largest. The center engages more than a large number of people in the area, processes numerous flights each day and processes in excess of 400,000 items an hour.

Community Reaction

A gathering was organized on the late afternoon of 6 November by the area labor union, which supports workers at the aviation hub, the company’s biggest shipping facility.

Worker representatives, which represents staff, commenced the memorial with a quiet tribute at the evening hour, the estimated moment of the incident before.

“This event was so sudden, so unforeseen,” the mayor told the group of attendees. “No one had a chance to say goodbye to any of those who we have lost.”