From Fox News: UPS on Thursday identified the flight crew killed in a fiery plane crash Tuesday at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) in Kentucky, which claimed the lives of 12 people and left nearly a dozen others injured.
The three deceased UPS pilots on board Flight 2976 were identified as Capt. Richard Wartenberg, 1st Officer Lee Truitt, and International Relief Officer Capt. Dana Diamond, according to UPS Airlines executive vice president Nando Cesarone.
“Words can’t express the sorrow we feel over the heartbreaking Flight 2976 accident,” Cesarone wrote in a statement on X. “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 …” the company wrote in the emotional statement.
The UPS cargo plane, which was loaded with about 38,000 gallons of fuel, was taking off on a 9-hour flight to Hawaii when it crashed after barely getting off the ground, and erupted into a massive inferno that could be seen for miles.
In addition to the fuel on the plane, it crashed into a nearby petroleum recycling operation, which had 29 above-ground storage tanks, containing about 226,000 gallons of used motor oil and 37,000 gallons of oil-water-antifreeze mix, the report explains.
Officials have reported that so far, 12 people are confirmed dead, including the three crew members onboard and a young child, and 11 others on the ground were injured.
Additionally, crews are still searching for another 9 people who remain missing, so the death toll will likely rise.
🚨#BREAKING: UPS has released the identities of the three flight crew members who tragically lost their lives in the Louisville plane crash involving Flight 2976:
-Captain Richard Wartenberg
-First Officer Lee Truitt
-Relief Captain Dana Diamond pic.twitter.com/eYLSXgxYzb— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) November 6, 2025
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg released the following statement:
Please join Rachel and me in praying for the families of Captain Richard Wartenberg, First Officer Lee Truitt, and International Relief Officer Captain Dana Diamond, who were on board UPS Flight 2976.
Our hearts are with their families, friends, and colleagues during this unimaginable time. Louisville stands with the entire UPS community as we mourn this tremendous loss together.
And please keep the families of those wounded in the crash or still waiting for word on their loved ones in your prayers and close to your hearts.
Please join Rachel and me in praying for the families of Captain Richard Wartenberg, First Officer Lee Truitt, and International Relief Officer Captain Dana Diamond, who were on board UPS Flight 2976.
Our hearts are with their families, friends, and colleagues during this…
— Mayor Craig Greenberg (@LouisvilleMayor) November 6, 2025
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