A man who was critically injured in the devastating UPS cargo plane crash in Louisville, Kentucky, has tragically died, bringing the final death toll to 15. Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg announced that Alain Rodriguez Colina passed away in the early hours of Christmas morning, following nearly two months in hospital battling injuries sustained in the disaster.
A Tragic Timeline of the Louisville Air Disaster
The fatal incident occurred on November 4, when UPS Flight 2976, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 cargo jet, exploded shortly after takeoff from Muhammad Ali International Airport. The aircraft was carrying approximately 38,000 gallons of fuel at the time, leading to a massive fireball that was captured in images and videos shared widely on social media.
Hundreds of firefighters were dispatched to the scene to tackle the resulting blazes. In the aftermath, local officials urged residents to report any debris to investigators to aid in determining the cause, rather than handling it themselves.
The victims included three crew members previously identified by UPS: Captain Richard Wartenberg, 57; First Officer Lee Truitt, 45; and International Relief Officer Captain Dana Diamond, 62. The local coroner's office completed the harrowing task of recovering and identifying all victims' remains eight days after the crash.
Investigation Focuses on Engine Mount Failure
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation, which is expected to take roughly a year to complete. In late November, federal investigators released a dramatic sequence of six photographs showing the moment an engine detached from the plane's left wing.
The images show the rear of the engine beginning to separate before it flew up and over the wing, with flames erupting. A subsequent photo captures the wing consumed by fire as the burning engine soars above it.
Investigators revealed that the 34-year-old aircraft was not yet due for a detailed inspection of crucial engine mount components, which were found to have fractures. The plane needed to complete nearly 7,000 more take-offs and landings before that inspection was mandated. Its last detailed examination was in October 2021.
Experts Weigh In on Maintenance Intervals
Former federal crash investigator Jeff Guzzetti noted that while UPS appeared to be conducting maintenance within the required timeframe, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) would likely review whether that interval is adequate. It remains unclear when the fractures began or if they were missed during the previous check.
Aviation safety specialist John Cox described such fatigue cracks as "normal wear and tear" for an aircraft, explaining that metal components like engine mounts, which vibrate with each flight, inevitably develop fractures over time. "It's simply a matter of determining inspection frequency and the necessary maintenance procedures," Cox emphasised.
The community of Louisville and the wider aviation world now await the NTSB's final report, hoping for answers that may prevent a similar tragedy in the future.
