The death toll from the devastating UPS cargo jet crash in Louisville, Kentucky, has risen to 15 after a man severely injured in the accident passed away on Christmas Day.
A Tragic Christmas Announcement
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg delivered the sombre news in a social media statement on Thursday evening. "It is with great sadness that I just learned Alain Rodriguez Colina has passed," Mayor Greenberg wrote. He confirmed that Colina was the fifteenth victim of the UPS Flight 2976 accident, having suffered severe injuries at the time of the crash before succumbing earlier on Christmas Day. The mayor concluded his tribute with the words, "May Alain's memory be a blessing."
Alain Rodriguez Colina was an employee at Grade A Auto Parts, a business located directly in the path of the crashing aircraft, as reported by USA Today. A tribute on the company's website remembered him as someone who was "always greeting customers with a smile, while going above and beyond for each customer."
Details of the November Crash
The fatal incident occurred on November 4 at Kentucky's Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport. UPS Flight 2976, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 cargo aircraft bound for Honolulu, Hawaii, crashed near the airport's perimeter shortly after departure.
According to a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the jet's left engine separated from the wing during takeoff. A burst of flames then engulfed the plane, which managed to climb only about 30 feet into the air before crashing. It collided with a storage yard and two buildings.
In the immediate aftermath of the collision in November, authorities announced that fourteen people, including the plane's three crew members, had died. Several others were injured.
Aftermath and Legal Action
The tragedy has prompted significant legal action. A class action lawsuit has been filed against UPS, as well as the businesses that manufactured the aircraft and its engine, according to The Lexington Herald Leader.
Speaking on Thursday, Colina's attorney, Masten Childers III, honoured his client's struggle. "Alain fought hard," Childers stated. "(His) passing must be honored by holding those responsible for his death accountable. For now, please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers." The community and the investigation continue to grapple with the full impact of one of Louisville's most severe aviation disasters.
