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The number of lives lost resulting from the freight aircraft that ignited and crashed has risen to 13, per recent statements.

City Leader's Remarks

While en route to the Teamsters’ candlelight gathering, I learned of a 13th person that passed away as a result of the aircraft accident,” expressed the city mayor in a social media post. “My heart are with the families, companions and colleagues of all who were lost in this week’s tragedy. We will overcome this together.”

Casualties Identified

A release from the company listed the flight crew on board the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 as Captain Richard Wartenberg, Co-pilot Lee Truitt, and International Relief Officer Dana Diamond.

“Our thoughts reach out to every UPSer who has been impacted and everyone in our local area – assisting you and making sure you receive the care and resources you need is our focus,” the company’s statement expressed.

Probe Details

Government authorities disclosed that the freight aircraft’s left wing caught fire and an engine detached shortly after liftoff from the airfield, leading to the plane to crash and burst into a inferno.

The National Transportation Safety Board stated it is examining the aircraft’s maintenance history, that was in Texas for fixes several weeks ahead of the incident.

Flight tracking records indicated the plane was on the runway in San Antonio, Texas from the start of last month to mid-October.

“We are knowledgeable that this plane was located in San Antonio,” stated an investigator on Thursday, without providing a precise time frame. “We will review each aspect of maintenance that was done, including the repair time, straight to the day of the flight.”

Findings of Critical Evidence

The audio device and information unit were retrieved, and the engine was found on the airfield.

The units – known as data containers – were built to endure accident forces and severe heat from infernos, and they appeared to be in one piece when found amid the wreckage. Authorities plan on reviewing information from the devices.

The plane’s concluding data recordings displayed an altitude of that level and a rate of 210 mph ahead of the impact.

Repair Background

Based on aviation authority documents from that date, a crack on a component in the fuel container demanded repairs.

The company ST Engineering, which stated it supplies structural repairs for the carrier’s MD-11 and runs a repair facility in that city, refused to speak, but stated it would work closely when officials contacted it.

Activities Resume

In the meantime, the facility activities resumed last night with its Next Day Air or evening procedure, spokesperson the company official stated. All three runways at the aviation hub were also open again.

The UPS package handling facility in the city is the firm’s biggest. The hub hires in excess of a large number of workers in the locality, handles 300 flights daily and processes more than 400,000 packages each hour.

Local Support

A gathering was held on the late afternoon of recently by the regional worker’s group, which acts for employees at the aviation hub, the organization’s largest shipping facility.

The union chapter, which represents UPS workers, started the vigil with a period of reflection at 5.14pm, the approximate hour of the crash two days earlier.

“This event was so abrupt, so surprising,” the official told the assembly of two hundred. “No one had a moment to part to each of those who we have said farewell to.”