Kentucky plane crash: Louisville officials identify victims of UPS plane crash as investigation continues
All 14 victims of the UPS cargo plane crash near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport have now been identified, officials have confirmed.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg announced the update on Wednesday, saying authorities now believe no one else died in the crash.
“Our city feels the full weight of this unimaginable tragedy,” Mayor Greenberg said while speaking at Wednesday’s press conference.
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Jefferson County Coroner Jo-Ann Farmer said the victims were identified using DNA, medical and dental records, with the process completed less than 24 hours before the announcement.
“I had a family member ask me yesterday, ‘How do you ever get used to this?’ And I said, ‘I don’t’,” Ms Farmer said.
“If I get used to this and it doesn’t bother me, I’m in the wrong profession. I need to move on to something else.”
People reported that the victims were later named as:
Captain Dana Diamond, 62
Captain Richard Wartenberg, 57
First Officer Lee Truitt, 45
Angela Anderson, 45
Carlos Fernandez, 52
Trinadette “Trina” Chavez, 37
Tony Crain, 65
John Loucks, 52
John Spray, 45
Matthew Sweets, 37
Ella Petty Whorton, 31
Megan Washburn, 35
Louisnes Fedon, 47 and Fedon’s 3-year-old granddaughter, Kimberly Asa.
Diamond, Wartenburg and Truitt were previously identified as UPS pilots.
In a statement, UPS said it “appreciates the dedication and compassion shown by the coroner’s office throughout this process” and extended its “deepest condolences” to the families who lost loved ones.
The cargo plane was travelling from Louisville to Honolulu, Hawaii, when it crashed around 5.15pm on November 4, according to National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) member Todd Inman.
A preliminary investigation found that three people were onboard when “a large plume of fire” erupted from the area of the left wing during the “take off roll”, Mr Inman said.
The plane “lifted off and gained enough altitude” to clear a fence at the end of the runway before crashing into multiple structures “off of the airport property,” he added.
The resulting fire stretched nearly half a mile, though the plane’s black box survived the blaze, Mr Inman said.
An investigation into the crash remains ongoing.
Mayor Greenberg closed Wednesday’s briefing with a message to grieving families, vowing continued support.
“We will continue to be here to support you in the weeks, months and year ahead,” he said.
“May each of your loved ones’ memories be a blessing.”
