14 killed in UPS plane crash; no more deaths expected, mayor says

14 killed in UPS plane crash; no more deaths expected, mayor says

WORK. FIRST, TONIGHT WE START WITH LATE BREAKING NEWS IN THAT PLANE CRASH. UPS JUST IDENTIFIED THE PILOTS WHO WERE KILLED. THEY ARE CAPTAIN RICHARD WARTENBERG FROM INDEPENDENCE, KENTUCKY. THAT’S IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE STATE. FIRST OFFICER LEE TRUITT FROM ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO, AND INTERNATIONAL RELIEF OFFICER CAPTAIN DANA DIAMOND. HE’S FROM TEXAS. WE HAVE LIVE TEAM COVERAGE FOR YOU AGAIN TONIGHT. LET’S START, THOUGH, WITH JENNIFER BAILEYS, WHO IS HAS THE LATEST FROM INVESTIGATORS. WELL, RICK, WE JUST GOT UPDATES FROM THE NTSB, THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT AND OTHER LOCAL OFFICIALS. HERE’S WHAT WE KNOW RIGHT NOW. THE CONFIRMED VICTIMS REMAIN AT 12, WITH NINE STILL MISSING TONIGHT. LANE PARTIALLY REOPENED. THE BARRIER, THOUGH, HAS BEEN PUSHED BACK ABOUT A QUARTER MILE. THE SHELTER IN PLACE AROUND THE CRASH SITE IS STILL IN PLACE AT THIS HOUR AND LATE THIS AFTERNOON WE LEARNED FROM THE NTSB. HOURS OF DATA WAS RECORDED FROM THE PLANE’S BLACK BOX. ALEXIS MATHEWS JOINS ME NOW WITH THE VERY LATEST FROM THE NTSB. ALEXIS. JENNIFER, FOR THIS CRASH TO HAVE HAPPENED, JUST NEARLY 48 HOURS AGO, NTSB, AS WE HEARD THE LEAD INVESTIGATORS, THEY’RE MAKING SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THIS TRAGEDY. NOW, TODAY WAS THEIR FIRST FULL DAY OF OPERATIONS. NTSB BOARD MEMBER TODD INMAN GAVE INSIGHT INTO WHAT’S ALREADY BEING DONE. NOW, SO FAR, THE BLACK BOX THAT THEY RECOVERED FROM THE CARGO PLANE HAS MADE ITS WAY TO THEIR HEADQUARTERS IN D.C. IN DATA WAS SUCCESSFULLY EXTRACTED, EVEN WITH THE HEAT DAMAGE THAT THE DEVICE IS SUSTAINED NOW, THEY’VE CALLED IN MORE AVIATION EXPERTS, BRINGING THEIR TOTAL NUMBER OF TEAM MEMBERS HERE IN LOUISVILLE TO OVER 30 PEOPLE. AND YESTERDAY, INVESTIGATORS CARRIED OUT WHAT’S CALLED A FOD WALK OR FOREIGN OBJECT DEBRIS SEARCH OF THE CRASH SITE AND WERE ABLE TO COLLECT PIECES OF ENGINE FAN BLADES AND THE MAIN COMPONENT OF THE ENGINE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE PLANE. THAT WILL BE ANALYZED BECAUSE AS WE KNOW, IT WAS THAT ENGINE THAT FELL OFF THE LEFT WING DURING TAKEOFF. NOW, NTSB ALSO REVEALED NEW INFORMATION ABOUT PRELIMINARY FLIGHT DATA THAT WAS REPORTED JUST TWO MINUTES BEFORE THAT U.P.S. PLANE CRASHED. TAKE A LISTEN. THESE DATA POINTS THAT WERE PROVIDED BY THE FAA SHOWED THE AIRCRAFT FOR THE LAST REPORTING TIME WAS AT 475FT OF ALTITUDE, TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF 183 KNOTS. THIS DATA POINT WAS COLLECTED AT FIVE, 13, AND 32 SECONDS EASTERN STANDARD TIME. ON THE NIGHT OF THE ACCIDENT. THIS INFORMATION WILL BE COUPLED WITH THE FLIGHT DATA RECORDER INFORMATION AND OTHER INFORMATION THAT WE RECEIVE THAT WILL HELP US PREPARE A TIMELINE OF EXACTLY WHAT OCCURRED AND IN WHAT PROGRESSION. WHAT WAS KNOWN IN EITHER THE COCKPIT OR ON THE GROUND. AND IT IS ANOTHER IMPORTANT PART OF THE INFORMATION. NOW, THE NTSB SAYS THERE IS SEVERAL HOURS OF DATA FROM THE BLACK BOX RECORDERS THAT THEY WILL TRANSCRIBE IN THE COMING DAYS, BUT THEY DO NOT RELEASE ANY AUDIO OF COCKPIT VOICE RECORDINGS. SO AS YOU HEARD, THEY’RE REALLY GETTING RIGHT TO WORK TRYING TO DETERMINE, YOU KNOW, WHAT HAPPENED AND THEIR INVESTIGATION. AND WE CAN EXPECT THEM TO BE HERE FOR A WEEK OR EVEN LONGER. JENNIFER. ALL RIGHT. ALEXIS MATHEWS, THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND THE NTSB ALSO ADDRESSED THE MAINTENANCE OF THAT EMD 11. THIS PARTICULAR UPS PLANE AND THE SIX WEEKS IT WAS IN A MAINTENANCE FACILITY IN TEXAS. WE’LL HAVE MUCH MORE ON THAT AHEAD IN THIS NEWSCAST. BUT TODAY WE LEARNED MORE ABOUT THE EFFORT TO FIND THE NINE PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL MISSING. TONIGHT, MAYOR GREENBERG SAYS OF THE 15 THAT WERE UNACCOUNTED FOR, SIX HAVE BEEN LOCATED. THE DEATH STANDS RIGHT NOW AT 12. RECOVERY EFFORTS ARE STILL UNDERWAY AT THE SITE RIGHT HERE, WITH CREWS NOW CARRYING OUT WHAT IS CALLED A LAYERING SEARCH. THERE WILL ALSO BE INDIVIDUALS THAT WILL BE LOOKING UNDERNEATH. THERE’S SO MUCH DEBRIS THERE. THERE IS SO MUCH CHARRED, MANGLED METAL THAT NOT ALL OF THE BODIES MAY HAVE BEEN LOCATED UNTIL YOU LOOK UNDERNEATH CERTAIN THINGS. AND SO THAT IS GOING THROUGH THE VARIOUS LAYERS OF DEBRIS ON THE FIELD THAT WILL BEGIN. NOW. EVERYTHING TO DATE HAS BEEN JUST LOOKING AT WHAT CAN BE SEEN WITHOUT MOVING DEBRIS AND FAMILY MEMBERS OR FRIENDS OF ANYONE STILL MISSING MAY CALL THE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN. THAT’S 800 6310604. NOW STOOGES, A VERY POPULAR BAR LITERALLY JUST STEPS AWAY FROM THIS CRASH SITE, HAD DOZENS OF PEOPLE INSIDE WHEN THIS PLANE HIT, ADDIE MEINERS SPOKE TO A MAN WHO WAS THERE, AND SHE JOINS US NOW WITH HIS STORY. ADDIE JENNIFER FRED WILLARD TOLD ME AROUND 7:00 ON TUESDAY NIGHT. HE WENT OUT AND BOUGHT HIMSELF A LOTTERY TICKET. THAT’S BECAUSE JUST TWO HOURS PRIOR, HE WAS ABOUT 100FT FROM BEING IN A PLANE CRASH. EVERYBODY AT WORK ASKING QUESTIONS, SAYING HOW LUCKY YOU ARE. I’VE HEARD THAT A THOUSAND TIMES. FRED WILLARD WORKS AT FORD’S LOUISVILLE ASSEMBLY PLANT. ON TUESDAY AFTERNOON. HE DID WHAT HE OFTEN DOES. AFTER GETTING OFF WORK. HE WENT FOR A BEER AT STOOGES BAR AND GRILL ON GRADE LANE. THAT’S WHERE HE SAYS HIS LUCK SAVED HIM. JUST BEEN HERE PROBABLY 15 MINUTES, 20 MAX. WE SIT DOWN AND THE NEXT THING I KNOW, THE WHOLE BAR TOP STARTS TO SHAKE. ALSO, WE’VE SEEN THIS FIREBALL COME FLYING BY, AND THEN THIS INTENSE HEAT HIT US. AND IT WAS JUST INSTANT. THE FIREBALL LITERALLY PROBABLY CAME 100FT FROM THE BUILDING. WILLARD SAYS HE RAN OUTSIDE AND STARTED FILMING. OH MY GOD, ALL THE PEOPLE WERE JUST LIKE, WOW. AND WHAT HE EXPERIENCED. HE SAYS HE’LL NEVER BE ABLE TO FORGET THE VERY FIRST SMELL WE SMELLED WAS THE BURNT OIL. ONE EXPLOSION LED TO ANOTHER EXPLOSION, AND YOU ACTUALLY STARTED SEEING THE SMOKE COME UP AND EVERYTHING WAS JUST SO SURREAL AND KIND OF JUST OVERTAKES YOU FOR A SECOND, WILLARD SAYS THE FIRST THING HE THOUGHT ABOUT WAS HOW FAR THE DAMAGE STRETCHED, AND IF HIS DAUGHTER, WHO WAS WORKING AT LAP, WAS HIT. I STARTED CALLING FRIENDS, MAKING SURE EVERYTHING WAS OKAY, AND THEY SAID IT DIDN’T TOUCH FORD. IT ACTUALLY JUST HIT RIGHT AFTER THE RAILROAD TRACKS AND MISSED STOOGES BY PROBABLY 150 YARDS. WHETHER IT WAS LUCK OR THE WORK OF A GUARDIAN ANGEL, WILLARD SAYS HE’LL NEVER KNOW. BUT WHAT HE DOES KNOW IS HE OWES EVERYTHING TO THOSE PILOTS. JUST SEEING HOW THE PLANE’S PATH DEVIATED A LITTLE BIT, KNOWING IF IT WENT A FEW DEGREES MORE TO THE RIGHT. YEAH, THE PILOTS ARE HEROES. NOW, STOOGES IS ABOUT JUST A HALF MILE DOWN THE ROAD HERE ON GRADE LANE FROM US RIGHT NOW, AND WILLARD SAYS HE’S LOOKING FORWARD TO THE DAY THAT HE CAN GET BACK TO STOOGES AND SEE ALL OF HIS FRIENDS THAT ARE THERE NOW. LATER ON AT SIX, I’LL TELL YOU MORE. I SPOKE WITH THE OWNER AND A BARTENDER AT STOOGES WHO WERE THERE WHEN THAT PLANE CRASH HAPPENED. I’LL TELL YOU MORE ABOUT WHAT THEY’RE ASKING OF THE COMMUNITY COMING UP AT SIX. LIVE FROM GRAY LANE. I’M ADDIE MEINERS WLKY NEWS. THANK YOU. ADDIE. NOW, THAT FAMILY ASSISTANCE CENTER IS BEING MOVED, IT HAS BEEN AT THE LMPD TRAINING FACILITY ON TAYLOR BOULEVARD SINCE THIS TRAGEDY TUESDAY NIGHT, BUT IT’S NOW AT A NEW SITE AND THAT LOCATION IS BEING KEPT PRIVATE. MAYOR GREENBERG AND THE LOUISVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT SAID THIS MOVE WAS JUST TO RESPECT THE PRIVACY OF THOSE RECEIVING ASSISTANCE. SEVERAL AGENCIES ARE AT THAT SITE TO PROVIDE RESOURCES, INCLUDING THE RED CROSS AND MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS. NOW, IN THE MIDST OF THIS TRAGEDY, WE’RE REALLY SEEING THE TRUE HEART OF LOUISVILLE SHINE THROUGH. FROM RELIEF FUNDS TO SMALL ACTS OF KINDNESS, PEOPLE ALL ACROSS OUR CITY AND OUR STATE REALLY ARE FINDING WAYS TO HELP FAMILIES AND FIRST RESPONDERS AND SURVIVORS. SURVIVORS HEAL FROM THIS. DEANDRIA TURNER JOINS US LIVE FROM A CANDLELIGHT VIGIL AT THE TEAMSTERS UNION HALL ON TAYLOR BOULEVARD, WHERE THE COMMUNITY IS GATHERING TONIGHT. ANDREA, HOW ARE PEOPLE DOING THERE? HI, JENNIFER. WELL, YOU CAN JUST FEEL THE LOVE AND RESILIENCE HERE. I SPOKE TO SOME PEOPLE ALREADY WHO SAYS WHILE THEY MAY HAVE NOT KNOWN ANYONE IN THIS TRAGEDY, THEY JUST WANTED TO SHOW THEIR LOVE AND RESPECT. THIS CANDLELIGHT VIGIL IS GOING TO START ANY MINUTE NOW. AND NOT ONLY ARE PEOPLE SHOWING UP IN FORCES IN DROVES HERE, THEY’RE ALSO PUTTING THIS LOVE INTO ACTION. I COULDN’T STOP THINKING ABOUT THEIR FINAL MOMENTS, AND THEY’RE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING THAT THEY COULD HAVE DONE. JUST THINKING ABOUT THE FAMILIES AND EVERYBODY ELSE AFFECTED. HER WORDS ECHO WHAT SO MANY IN LOUISVILLE ARE FEELING HEARTBREAK, COMPASSION, AND THE URGE TO DO SOMETHING IN THE WAKE OF THE NOVEMBER 4TH TRAGEDY. FAMILIES ARE FACING UNIMAGINABLE LOSS, AND THE COMMUNITY IS STEPPING UP TO HELP THEM SHOULDER IT. ONE OF THE MAIN WAYS PEOPLE CAN GIVE IS THROUGH THE KENTUCKY EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND. DONATIONS GO DIRECTLY TO THOSE IMPACTED. HELPING FAMILIES REBUILD AND COVERING FUNERAL COSTS TO THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES. BUT THE GENEROSITY DOESN’T STOP THERE. ONE SOUTHERN INDIANA WOMAN IS ON A MISSION TO FEED THE CITY’S AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS. THE PEOPLE WHO’VE BEEN WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK SINCE THE CRASH. FOR HER, IT’S DEEPLY PERSONAL. SHE WAS ONCE A FLIGHT ATTENDANT. NOW SHE’S A PRIVATE PILOT AND SAID SHE COULDN’T STAND BY AND DO NOTHING. SO I’VE ALREADY BEEN IN TOUCH WITH BOWMAN FIELD. I’M GOING TO START WITH THEM BECAUSE I, I DID GET IN TOUCH WITH A WIFE OF ONE OF THE CONTROLLERS AT SDF, AND SHE SAID THAT WITH NTSB AND EVERYTHING BEING SO BEING SO HECTIC THERE, I’M GOING TO TRY TO GET THEM SOME HOT MEALS NEXT WEEK. A SMALL GESTURE FOR THOSE WHO’VE CARRIED SUCH A HEAVY BURDEN. IT’S JUST A HIGH STRESS JOB THAT THEY HAVE. AND ON TOP OF THAT, JUST WITNESSING THE DEVASTATION THAT THEY THAT THEY DID AND JUST TRYING TO KEEP EVERYBODY SAFE AND ON TOP OF THEM NOT GETTING PAID, I JUST I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING. SO IF I CAN DO SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS PROVIDE HOT MEALS, AND THAT’S WHAT I WAS GOING TO DO. AND YOU GUYS, NOT ONLY HAS SHE DONE THIS, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER AGENCIES HERE LIKE THE SALVATION ARMY. THEY WERE ON SITE YESTERDAY HERE IN LOUISVILLE, AND ALSO OTHER AGENCIES HAVE BEEN GIVEN FIRST RESPONDERS LUNCH, MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE WELL FUELED WHILE THEY CONTINUE TO DO WHAT THEY’RE DOING IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND AGAIN, NOT ONLY ARE THEY DOING THAT, BUT JUST LOOK AT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE RIGHT NOW COMING TO PAY THEIR RESPECTS AND SHOW THEIR LOVE FOR THE LIVES LOST, FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE CONTINUING TO FIGHT FOR THEIR LIVES AND FOR THE FAMILIES WHO HAVE BEEN EVER CHANGED BY THIS TRAGEDY IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE’RE GOING TO HAVE MORE FROM THIS VIGIL COMING UP HERE AT 6:00 ON AIR AND ONLINE. AND IF YOU WANT TO HELP OUT IN THAT GOFUNDME, WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE AS WELL. FOR NOW, HERE IN LOUISVILLE, DEANDRIA TURNER WLKY NEWS. THANK YOU. ANDREA. LOUISVILLE REALLY COMES TOGETHER WHEN IT MATTERS MOST. BACK HERE AT THE LOUISVILLE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, FLIGHTS, BOTH COMMERCIAL AND UPS CARGO PLANES, CONTINUE TO TAKE OFF HERE. RICK.