Former colleagues pay tributes to pilots killed in UPS cargo plane crash in Kentucky

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Former colleagues are mourning 3 pilots killed successful a UPS cargo level crash successful Louisville, Kentucky, arsenic relatives of a antheral who was pulled from the wreckage corroborate he’s among those who died.

Capt. Richard Wartenberg, First Officer Lee Truitt and International Relief Officer Capt. Dana Diamond were connected committee erstwhile the clang happened during takeoff Tuesday astatine UPS Worldport, the company's global aviation hub located astatine Muhammad Ali International Airport.

At slightest 11 others died, including Matt Sweets, who suffered wide pain wounds. Many of the victims inactive person not been identified.

Todd Inman of the National Transportation Safety Board, which is starring the ongoing investigation, has said the level had been cleared for takeoff erstwhile a ample occurrence developed successful the near helping and an motor fell off. A signaling indicates a repeating doorbell sounded successful the cockpit for 25 seconds arsenic pilots tried to power the aircraft, Inman said Friday.

Dramatic video captured the craft crashing into businesses and erupting successful a fireball. Footage from phones, cars and information cameras has helped investigators portion unneurotic what happened from galore antithetic angles.

From 1994 until 2016, Wartenberg served with the 445th Airlift Wing astatine the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base adjacent Dayton, Ohio, according to a connection from the wing.

The retired lieutenant colonel and erstwhile reservist received his committee done Air Force Officer Training School and passim his vocation had qualifications successful the C-141 Starlifter, C-5 Galaxy and the C-17 Globemaster III. He had logged much than 5,000 subject formation hours erstwhile helium retired arsenic a bid pilot, the merchandise said.

In 2010, helium received the Meritorious Service Medal.

Wartenberg lived successful Independence, Kentucky, southbound of Cincinnati, according to nationalist records.

He besides spent much than 2 decades arsenic a subordinate of the Ohio Valley Region Porsche Club of America, a radical of enthusiasts of Porsche vehicles. The nine holds events specified arsenic autocrosses and high-performance driving acquisition astatine determination sports car tracks.

Truitt had been a aviator for UPS since 2021, flying the MD-11 airliner, and lived successful Albuquerque, New Mexico, according to his LinkedIn profile. Before that, helium was a skipper for SkyWest Airlines and a formation teacher astatine Bode Aviation. He studied Spanish connection and lit astatine the University of New Mexico and graduated successful 2006.

John H. Bode, the president and CEO of Bode Aviation, called Truitt “a cherished friend, a trusted colleague, and a exemplary of what it means to beryllium a existent nonrecreational aviator.”

Truitt “demonstrated an unwavering committedness to excellence, earning the respect and admiration of everyone helium worked alongside,” Bode wrote successful a statement. “Through diligence, humility, and an unrelenting pursuit of mastery, Lee roseate to service arsenic a Senior Flight Instructor and Charter Pilot, wherever his discipline, composure, and integrity became the modular by which others measured themselves. His dedication to his trade was matched lone by his generosity of tone — helium continually returned to mentor our students and instructors, guiding the adjacent procreation of aviators with patience, wisdom, and care.”

Diamond antecedently served arsenic commissioner and main of Bastrop County Emergency Services District No. 1 successful Texas. The exigency services bureau said successful a societal media tribute that it was “deeply saddened” by his death.

“He ran towards information truthful the remainder of america tin measurement backmost from it and that benignant of devotion to his assemblage leaves a people connected everyone it touches,” the bureau said. “He leaves down not lone a bequest of work but besides the memories with chap firefighters and the assemblage helium served. His publication to the citizens of Bastrop County Texas are immeasurable.

“May his household find comfortableness successful knowing helium served our assemblage to marque it a amended spot and whitethorn we grant his memory.”

Diamond lived successful Caldwell, Texas, according to nationalist records.

Matt Sweets, who was severely burned successful the blaze and hospitalized, died Thursday afternoon, according to a societal media station by his sister, Michelle Sweets.

“For now, delight support his woman Brooke and his 2 young children successful your prayers arsenic good arsenic the remainder of us,” she wrote.

Carrie Ryan, different sister of Matt Sweets, thanked the “brave antheral who pulled him from the wreckage and got him to help.” But she said determination was thing anyone could person done to prevention her brother. She said his children didn't merit this.

“But we volition marque definite they turn up knowing their dada was the astir loyal, kind, and caring antheral — and however fortunate they are to person you watching implicit them," she wrote.

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Mattise and Loller reported from Nashville, Tennessee.