LOUISVILLE, KY — Federal investigators are focusing on maintenance history and mechanical failures as the death toll from the recent UPS cargo plane crash in Louisville rose to 13. Mayor Craig Greenberg confirmed the increase in fatalities just as UPS released the identities of the three crew members killed aboard the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 freighter. The accident, which occurred shortly after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF), has prompted a comprehensive investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and led to an outpouring of community support.
The flight crew members who tragically died in the incident were identified by UPS as Captain Richard Wartenberg, First Officer Lee Truitt, and International Relief Officer Captain Dana Diamond. The company extended its heartfelt condolences to their families, employees, and the local community, vowing to provide support during this difficult time.
Focus on Pre-Flight Maintenance
NTSB member Todd Inman reported that preliminary data indicates the aircraft reached an altitude of 475 feet and a speed of 210 mph before impacting the ground. Investigators have recovered both the cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder intact, which will be crucial in determining the sequence of events leading up to the crash.
The physical evidence gathered at the site intensified the scrutiny on the aircraft’s mechanics. Witnesses and preliminary data confirmed the aircraft’s left wing ignited and an engine separated from the plane moments after leaving the runway. The separated engine was later located on the airfield.
A critical aspect of the NTSB inquiry involves the jet’s recent maintenance history. Flight-tracking data showed the MD-11 was grounded in San Antonio between September 3 and October 18 for maintenance. Mr. Inman stated investigators are thoroughly reviewing all work performed during this period leading up to the accident flight. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records, dated September 18, had previously indicated required repairs for a known crack within the center wing fuel tank structure.
ST Engineering, which services UPS’s MD-11 fleet at its San Antonio facility, declined to comment specifically on the maintenance records but confirmed it is cooperating fully with the NTSB inquiry.
Community Mourns as Operations Resume
Despite the disaster, UPS Worldport—the company’s largest hub, which employs over 20,000 people and handles over 400,000 packages per hour—has resumed operations for its Next Day Air sorting. All three runways at SDF have also reopened, a company spokesperson confirmed.
The gravity of the loss resonated deeply within the Louisville community. The city’s mayor shared that he learned of the additional fatality while en route to a candlelight vigil organized by the Teamsters union.
Teamsters Local 89, representing UPS workers at the hub, hosted the vigil, drawing approximately 200 attendees. The event began with a moment of silence at 5:14 p.m., the approximate time of the crash two days prior. Mayor Greenberg addressed the somber crowd, lamenting that the sudden disaster denied families and colleagues the opportunity to say their final goodbyes.
The NTSB investigation is ongoing, and a final determination regarding the cause of the fatal accident is expected to take several months. Aviation safety experts emphasize that the analysis of the collected maintenance records and flight recorders will be paramount in preventing similar tragedies in the future.