In brief
In a heart-wrenching incident last week, a UPS cargo plane crashed during takeoff in Louisville, claiming the lives of 14 individuals. As the names of the victims were released, Mayor Craig Greenberg shared the city's grief over this unimaginable loss, emphasizing the stories and connections of those who perished. Investigation teams continue to work on-site as the community mourns the tragic events that unfolded.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A grandfather and his young granddaughter. An electrician with two young children. A woman standing in line at a scrap metal business.
They were among those who lost their lives in the fiery crash of a UPS plane in Louisville last week. The victims' names were released on Wednesday as Mayor Craig Greenberg lamented the lives that will “forever be unfinished.”
“As we share the names of those who we‘ve lost, our city feels the full weight of this unimaginable tragedy,” Greenberg said at a press conference. “Behind every one of these names is a circle of family, friends, stories that will forever be unfinished.”
Eight days after the plane plowed into the ground in a massive fireball, the local coroner’s office announced it had completed the arduous task of recovering victims’ remains and notifying their loved ones. Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board continue to examine the crash site.
The list of victims includes three pilots who were aboard when the crash occurred during takeoff at the UPS Worldport, located at Muhammad Ali International Airport. They were Capt. Richard Wartenberg, First Officer Lee Truitt, and International Relief Officer Capt. Dana Diamond.
John Spray, 45, was working at Grade A Auto Parts & Recycling when the plane crashed into the business. Tifany Torok, the mother of his child, mourned his loss, stating he was “in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
The family of Louisnes Fedon, 47, echoed similar sentiments, describing a profound void created by his passing. Both Fedon and his 3-year-old granddaughter, Kimberly Asa, were caught in the crash, marking a tragic loss for their families.
Matthew Sweets, 37, who suffered severe burns from the crash, later died. He was an electrician and father of two young children. Another victim, Ella Petty Whorton, 31, was at the recycling facility during the incident. Her boyfriend remembered her fondly as a beloved partner.
In addition to these individuals, other victims included Angela Anderson, 45; Carlos Fernandez, 52; Trinadette Chavez, 37; Tony Crain, 65; John Loucks, 52; and Megan Washburn, 35. Details about their specific circumstances during the crash are still pending.
Mayor Greenberg praised the coroner’s office for their relentless efforts to recover and identify the victims, highlighting the emotional toll such work takes. “If I get used to this and it doesn’t bother me anymore, I’m in the wrong profession,” stated Jefferson County Coroner Jo-Ann Farmer.
