All 14 people killed when a UPS plane burst into flames upon takeoff and crashed in Louisville were identified Wednesday by city leaders.
UPS had already identified the people on board as Captain Richard Wartenberg, 57; First Officer Lee Truitt, 45; and Dana Diamond, 62, the relief captain.
The victims on the ground were:
- Angela Anderson, 45
- Carlos Fernandez, 52
- Louisnes Fedon, 47
- Kimberly Asa, 3 (granddaughter of Fedon)
- Matthew Sweets, 37
- Megan Washburn, 35
- John Loucks, 52
- Trinadette “Trina” Chavez, 37
- John Spray Jr., 45
- Tony Crain, 65
- Ella Petty Whorton, 31
All 11 victims on the ground were at a business, Grade A Auto Parts and Recycling, that was in the path of the aircraft as it careened out of control through an industrial area, according to the shop’s owner, Sean Garber.
The victims were either customers or employees at the shop when the plane crashed just after 5 p.m. on Nov. 4, he said.
“Our city feels the full weight of this unimaginable tragedy,” Mayor Craig Greenberg said at a press conference Wednesday. “Behind every one of these names is a circle of family, friends, stories that will forever be unfinished.”
The victims were identified through a mix of DNA and dental records, officials said. Testing finished less than 24 hours before the victims were publicly identified, but all family members were notified in advance. Authorities believe no other people were killed in the disaster.
UPS Flight 2976 attempted to take off from UPS Worldport in Louisville but didn’t even reach 500 feet in the air before plummeting back to the ground in a massive fireball at 210 mph, according to black box data.
The plane’s left engine detached and rolled through the airfield while the aircraft exploded, leaving a charred scene stretching half a mile from the airport fence.
