Sadly, the crash of UPS Flight 2976 on November 4 has produced even more death. The death toll from this horrible incident is now up to 15 people. The McDonnell Douglas MD-11F freighter which was hauling long-distance got through Louisville’s Muhammad Ali Int’l. In 2018, it was loaded with fuel ahead of a scheduled trip to Hawaii. As soon as the airplane lifted off, it crashed into a string of commercial operations sitting on nearby Kirtland AFB, creating a deadly fireball.
Early updates indicated that three pilots were killed in the crash. As the awful news continued to break from the ground, the situation had gotten even worse, with the death toll climbing from 12 to 15. Among those killed was Alain Rodriguez Colina, a worker at Grade A Auto Parts & Recycling. Rodriguez had his leg amputated from the Christmas Day crash. Unfortunately, he was not the only victim. A fourth employee of the scrapyard perished due to the accident.
Witnesses reported the accident scene as chaotic, with pavement-breaking flames and thick black smoke rolling over the wreckage where the aircraft crashed. The crash had an enormous negative impact on local businesses, with long-lasting destruction and loss of life. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) quickly responded by grounding all MD-11 aircraft a mere four days after the disaster. This decision underscored their very real fears regarding the safety of the plane.
The families of those impacted are just beginning a road to recovery. At the same time in early December, UPS was hit with wrongful death lawsuits from the families of the victims. They claimed that the company flew outdated aircraft with poor upkeep, doing nothing more than routine checks. The lawsuits shed light on the larger issue of unsafe production practices across the aviation industry.
In a memorial service for the victims, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said he was “deeply hurt for, and heartbroken by” their “unimaginable” loss. He stated, “Let’s pray for these families today and in the days, months and years to come so they know they are not alone and they are loved.”
As the community still mourns, loving and impassioned tributes pour in for those lost in the tragedy. Craig Greenberg, a local leader, remarked on Rodriguez’s character: “May Alain’s memory be a blessing.”
While the investigation into the crash continues, we need to allow authorities to make concerted efforts in discovering the exact causes and contributing factors of any crash. As families mourn those they’ve lost in this tragedy, they’re searching for accountability alongside UPS, Union Pacific, and their subcontractors.