Louisville, Kentucky– Former colleagues mourn three pilots killed in an accident UPS cargo plane crash in Louisville, Kentucky, where relatives of a man pulled from the wreck confirmed he was among the dead.
Captain Richard Wartenberg, First Officer Lee Truitt and International Relief Officer Captain Dana Diamond were on board the plane when the accident occurred during takeoff Tuesday at UPS Worldport, the company’s headquarters. World Aviation Centre It is located at Muhammad Ali International Airport.
At least 11 others died, including Matt Sweets, who suffered extensive burns. Many victims still have not been identified.
Todd Inman of the National Transportation Safety Board, which is leading the ongoing investigation, said the plane was It was cleared for take-off When a major fire broke out in the left wing and the engine fell. Inman said Friday that the recording indicates the sound of the buzzer was repeated in the cockpit for 25 seconds as the pilots tried to control the plane.
Dramatic video The plane was captured crashing into businesses and erupting in a fireball. Phone, car and surveillance camera footage helped investigators piece together what happened from different angles.
From 1994 until 2016, Wartenberg served with the 445th Airlift Wing at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio, according to a statement from the wing.
The retired lieutenant colonel and former reservist earned his commission through Air Force Officer Training School, and throughout his career he earned qualifications in the C-141 Starlifter, C-5 Galaxy, and C-17 Globemaster III aircraft. The statement said he had logged more than 5,000 military flight hours when he retired as a command pilot.
In 2010, he received the Meritorious Service Medal.
Wartenberg lived in Independence, Kentucky, south of Cincinnati, according to public records.
He also spent more than two decades as a member of the Porsche Club of America of the Ohio Valley, a group of Porsche enthusiasts. The club holds events such as stock car racing and high-performance driving instruction on regional sports car tracks.
Truitt has been a UPS pilot since 2021, flying an MD-11, and lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico, according to his LinkedIn profile. Before that, he was a captain for SkyWest Airlines and a flight instructor for Bode Aviation. He studied Spanish Language and Literature at the University of New Mexico and graduated in 2006.
Description of John H. Bode, President and CEO of Bode Aviation, described Truett as “a dear friend, trusted colleague and role model of what it means to be a true professional pilot.”
Truitt “demonstrated an unwavering commitment to excellence and was respected and admired by everyone who worked with him,” Boddie wrote in a statement. “Through diligence, humility and a relentless pursuit of mastery, Lee rose to serve as a Senior Flight Instructor and Charter Pilot, where his discipline, composure and integrity became the standard by which others measured themselves. His dedication to his craft was matched only by his generosity of spirit – he continually returned to guide our students and teachers, and mentor the next generation of pilots with patience, wisdom and care.”
Diamond previously served as Commissioner and Chief of Bastrop County Emergency Services District No. 1 in Texas. The Emergency Services Agency said in a tweet on social media that it was “deeply saddened” by his death.
“He ran toward danger so the rest of us could retreat from him, and that kind of dedication to his community leaves a mark on everyone he touches,” the agency said. “He not only leaves behind a legacy of service, but also memories with his fellow firefighters and the community he served. His contribution to the citizens of Bastrop County, Texas is invaluable.”
“May his family find comfort in knowing that he served our community to make it a better place, and may we honor his memory.”
Diamond lived in Caldwell, Texas, according to public records.
Matt Sweets, who was severely burned in the fire and taken to a hospital, died Thursday afternoon, according to a social media post by his sister, Michelle Sweets.
“For now, please keep his girlfriend Brooke and his two young children in your prayers, as well as the rest of us,” she wrote.
Carrie Ryan, another sister of Matt Sweets, thanked “the brave man who pulled him out of the wreckage and called for help.” But she said there was nothing anyone could do to save her brother. She said his children didn’t deserve this.
“But we will make sure they grow up knowing that their father was the most loyal, kind, caring man — and how lucky they are to have you watching over them,” she wrote.
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Mathis and Lawler reported from Nashville, Tennessee.