Three UPS pilots were killed when a cargo plane crashed and exploded in Louisville, Kentucky, earlier this week — and a missing mother of two is believed to be among the victims on the ground.
UPS identified the crew members as Capt. Richard Wartenberg, First Officer Lee Truitt, and International Relief Officer Capt. Dana Diamond. “Words can’t express the sorrow we feel over the heartbreaking Flight 2976 accident,” UPS said in a statement. “This continues to be an incredibly sad time for our entire UPS family, and as our CEO Carol Tomé reminded us: ‘United, we are strong.’”
Missing Mom Believed Among Victims
Authorities say Angela Anderson, a local mother of two, is feared dead after being at the crash site on Tuesday. Her boyfriend, Donald Henderson, 55, told WDRB that she had gone alone to a nearby Grade A Auto Parts & Scrap Metal Recycling facility — the site where the plane went down and exploded.
“She’s all I got,” Henderson said tearfully. He explained that he had been too tired to go with her that evening, allowing her to go on her own. “She wanted to take some scrap metal and get rid of it,” he said. “So I told her, ‘Go ahead.’”
Friends and family are still awaiting official confirmation of Anderson’s fate. Her friend Angel O’Rafferty shared a plea on Facebook, writing, “Angela Anderson!!! I love you with all my heart. PLEASE GOD bring her to safety along with the others that have not been found from The Plane Wreck in Louisville, Kentucky.”
Investigation Underway
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed that investigators have recovered the plane’s black box as they work to determine what caused the deadly crash and ensuing fire.
Local and state officials said at least 12 people were killed in the incident, including a child who was with a parent at the car parts business when the crash occurred. The aircraft burst into flames shortly after impact, sending thick smoke billowing over the industrial area.
The crash has shaken the Louisville community, with grief pouring in from residents, aviation workers, and UPS employees nationwide. “It’s devastating,” one local resident said. “You don’t expect something like this to happen right here.”
Officials say the investigation will take weeks, and federal teams are expected to release a preliminary report soon.