3 Pilots Killed In UPS Plane Crash Identified As Death Toll Rises

The three pilots killed in the UPS cargo plane crash at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport earlier this week were publicly identified as the death toll rose to 13 on Thursday.

Capt. Richard Warternberg, First Officer Lee Truitt and International Relief Officer Capt. Dana Daimond were named in a statement shared by UPS.

"Words can’t express the sorrow we feel over the heartbreaking Flight 2976 accident. It’s with great sorrow that we share the names of the UPS pilots on board UPS Flight 2976," said Nando Cesarone, UPS Executive Vice President, U.S. & UPS Airlines, in a news release. "Captain Richard Wartenberg, First Officer Lee Truitt, and International Relief Officer Captain Dana Diamond were operating the flight.

"Our hearts go out to every UPSer who has been impacted and all in our Louisville community – supporting you and ensuring you receive the care and resources you need is our priority.

"This continues to be an incredibly sad time for our entire UPS family, and as our CEO, Carol Tomé reminded us: 'United, we are strong.'

"We extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of our colleagues, and to the loved ones of those in the Louisville community."

(Warning: the video below includes a real reaction with some coarse language).

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg confirmed that the death toll rose to 13 in a post shared on social media Thursday.

"Tonight we gathered together in prayer, in solidarity as one city and one family. We pray for the victims and their families, for the 13 lives lost, for those still unaccounted for, and for the survivors who carry the weight of this tragedy. May the memory of the 13 individuals we have lost be a blessing. In the days and weeks ahead, may we continue to draw strength from one another, for the families and for our entire city," Greenberg wrote on his X account.

A local mother, identified as Angela 'Angie' Anderson, 45, is believed to be among several people still missing after the crash resulted in a fiery explosion on Tuesday (November 4). Before-and-after shots captured by the satellite and data intelligence company Vantor showed a long black trail of debris and torched vehicles south of the airport, as well as a 300-foot gash on top of a UPS warehouse struck by the plane as it came down just after takeoff from the airport, which serves as the global shipping company's aviation hub, the New York Post reports.

The crash sparked a massive inferno that engulfed the plane, which was carrying 50,000 gallons of fuel at the time of takeoff. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear had previously confirmed that one of the victims is believed to be a young child, "which makes it all the harder," during a press briefing on Wednesday.

The coroner was reported to be at the scene attempting to identify the victims, though Beshear claimed it would be "a little more difficult" due to the condition of their bodies following the massive fire.