The total count of victims resulting from the transport jet that ignited and went down has now risen to 13, as confirmed by official reports.
City Leader's Announcement
“On my way to the Teamsters’ memorial service, I learned of a thirteenth victim that died as a outcome of the plane crash,” stated the local official in a social media post. “My heart are with the families, friends and peers of all who were taken in this recently occurred disaster. We will overcome this together.”
Victims Confirmed
A statement from the carrier identified the officers on board the aircraft as Captain Richard Wartenberg, First Officer Lee Truitt, and International Relief Officer Dana Diamond.
“Our sympathies reach out to every staff member who has been affected and everyone in our community area – supporting you and ensuring you get the care and assistance you need is our focus,” the company’s communication stated.
Investigation Findings
National investigators revealed that the jet’s wing ignited and an motor detached soon after liftoff from the airfield, resulting in the aircraft to plummet and burst into a fireball.
The National Transportation Safety Board stated it is examining the jet’s maintenance history, which was in the state for repairs several weeks before the crash.
Aircraft information indicated the plane was on the runway in San Antonio, Texas from early September to last week.
“We are aware that this aircraft was there in San Antonio,” said an NTSB member on the following day, not giving a exact period. “We will look at each aspect of maintenance that was completed, including the repair visit, straight to the date of the flight.”
Retrieval of Critical Evidence
The cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder were recovered, and the power plant was located on the airfield.
The recorders – known as flight recorders – were constructed to survive crash impacts and intense fire from fires, and they appeared to be undamaged when located within the crash debris. Officials plan on analyzing data from the recorders.
Jet’s final recorded information displayed an altitude of 475 feet and a rate of 210 mph ahead of the crash.
Service History
Based on aviation authority records from last month, a fissure on a part in the center wing fuel tank needed repairs.
The company ST Engineering, which indicated it offers structural repairs for the company’s aircraft and runs a maintenance center in Texas, refused to comment, but expressed it would work closely when investigators contacted it.
Operations Continue
Meanwhile, the hub activities continued that evening with its overnight also known as evening procedure, official Jim Mayer stated. The three runways at the aviation hub were additionally reopened.
The UPS package handling facility in the city is the company’s biggest. The center hires in excess of a large number of people in the region, manages numerous aircraft each day and sorts more than four hundred thousand items per hour.
Local Support
A candlelight vigil was conducted on the night of 6 November by the local labor union, which supports employees at the airfield, the organization’s biggest freight center.
The union chapter, which stands for employees, started the gathering with a moment of silence at the evening hour, the approximate hour of the incident before.
“This tragedy was so sudden, so surprising,” the leader told the assembly of 200. “No one had a opportunity to bid farewell to each of those who we have mourned.”
