The news that a lot of us knew was coming, but
did not want to hear, broke yesterday afternoon with the official announcement from UPS of the names of the crew of UPS Flight 2796, that included the name of a friend to many of us in ARFF, Captain Dana Diamond.
did not want to hear, broke yesterday afternoon with the official announcement from UPS of the names of the crew of UPS Flight 2796, that included the name of a friend to many of us in ARFF, Captain Dana Diamond.Dana was a true friend to the fire service, especially to all of us in the ARFF profession...
He dedicated his time to training ARFF
personnel on UPS aircraft, always sharing his knowledge and experience to help keep others safe.
personnel on UPS aircraft, always sharing his knowledge and experience to help keep others safe.Beyond his work, Dana also served as a volunteer firefighter in Texas — a true testament to his dedication and his heart for helping others.
Dana’s passion, kindness, and willingness to give of himself left a lasting mark on everyone who had the privilege to know him. His legacy will live on through the firefighters he trained and the lives he touched.
May Dana, along with Captain Richard Wartenberg and First Officer Lee Truitt, Rest in Peace…
We close out this sad week with the following stories.
Be safe out there this weekend!
Tom
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UPS identifies crew killed in Louisville plane crash, including pilot from NKY
Emily Sanderson - Digital Media Manager - WLWT
LOUISVILLE, Ky. —
UPS has released the names of the crew members
on board the plane that crashed at the Louisville Airport.
The crew members aboard UPS Flight 2976 were identified as Captain Richard Wartenberg, who is from Independence, Kentucky, First Officer Lee Truitt and International Relief Officer Captain Dana Diamond.
via WLKY
"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," UPS said in a statement.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the deadly crash.
Hearts are heavy in Northern Kentucky as the community mourns Wartenberg and his co-workers.
"I just feel like we need to come together as a community and help each other out," Independence resident Dakota Roberts said.
This loss is hitting close to home for many.
For Dwight Wells, who spent years working at Louisville Airport, this is especially true.
"It's a very sad situation. I've worked for Delta airlines for 31 years, retired, in 2019. And Louisville was my last city I worked in,” he said, "Louisville is a very busy airport a lot of folks don't realize how busy it is. With the UPS presence there, it makes it one of the top 10 airports in the country."
Wells says seeing video of the crash was hard, especially knowing now how many families lost loved ones and knowing one of those families lives in his community.
“Unfortunately, you realize it's not fake and it's actually happened and it hits you different when it's a place you used to work at and people are effected there," he said.
The UPS plane, which was bound for Honolulu,
appeared to catch fire, exploding during takeoff at the Louisville Airport, causing a fiery scene, leaving 12 people dead, 15 injured and 9 people are still unaccounted for.
Fifteen people were injured and taken to UofL Health to be treated. The injuries ranged from minor to severe burns, blast injuries, shrapnel injuries and smoke inhalation injuries.
Todd Inman with the NTSB, said they have found the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder, commonly referred to as a black box, from the aircraft. They were able to download the data from both recorders and are now analyzing the information.
The NTSB confirmed CCTV shows the plane's engine detaching from the left side during takeoff.
The plane, an MD-2 altered to be an MD-11, was created in 1991
As they begin their investigation, Inman said they will split into multiple groups: operations group, structures group, power plants group , systems group and a maintenance group. They will also be bringing in specialists.
Investigative teams will be on scene at least a week.
https://www.wlwt.com/article/ups-plane-crash-louisville-airport-pilot-names/69279705
Kentucky National Guard responds to fatal civilian plane crash
Story by Dale Greer - 123rd Airlift Wing
Firefighters from the Kentucky Air National Guard were among hundreds of emergency workers who responded to a fatal civilian plane crash just south of Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport here Tuesday night.
Eight Guard firefighters and four fire trucks were
deployed to the crash site around 5:20 p.m., said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Ty Allen, fire chief for the 123rd Airlift Wing. That was approximately five minutes after the port wing of a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 caught fire and its engine detached from the aircraft during take-off, according to an official from the National Transportation Safety Board, causing the United Parcel Service cargo plane to lose altitude and burst into flames upon impact with the ground near Grade Lane and Fern Valley Road.
The accident has claimed 12 lives so far, said Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg — all three crew members on the plane, plus nine people on the ground. At least a dozen people were injured.
The aircraft, en route to Hawaii and carrying 38,000 gallons of aviation fuel, struck a petroleum recycling facility and multiple other structures, leaving a long trail of flaming debris. A towering plume of black smoke was visible several miles from the crash site.
Arriving first on scene with their airport authority counterparts, the Guard firefighters quickly employed a tanker truck, a pumper truck, a crash truck and a mobile command post, said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Kyle Miller. The two teams immediately started dispersing firefighting foam — a key element in suppressing jet fuel fires, which cannot be extinguished with water.
“We used our tanker truck to supply water to the (airport authority’s) crash truck,” which mixed the water with concentrated foam to lay down a fire-suppressing blanket, Miller said. “Working together, we were putting out about 300 gallons a minute from the airport authority apparatus.”
Meanwhile, another Guard firefighter deployed his own blanket of foam from the Air Force crash truck; and a third Guard effort directed a master stream of water to protect storage tanks filled with oil at the recycling facility, where at least two tanks had already exploded from the heat.
The crash site, which stretched for more than a quarter-mile, was challenging for multiple reasons.
“There was 280,000 pounds of jet fuel at the site, and that’s going to burn hot and heavy with thick black smoke,” Miller noted. Access also was limited because of downed power lines and fallen telephone poles.
“We just started fighting whatever fire we could see,” he said, “putting down foam to suppress the vapors and get the fire under control so that someone else could possibly get in there and see about any victims.”
The scene was unlike anything Miller had encountered in 24 years as a firefighter, with a wall of intense smoke and fire that reached 200 feet high.
“I’ve never experienced anything with this much fuel, this giant of an aircraft,” he said. “It was a little bit chaotic at first, but everybody was doing exactly what we are trained to do.”
Miller added that help from numerous other fire departments — including one unit as far away as Lexington — was crucial to stopping the fire, which burned for hours.
“We worked together as one team and integrated extremely well with each other. You have a job, and whatever you are told to do, you do it.”
Twenty Airmen and Soldiers from the Kentucky National Guard’s 41st Civil Support Team also mobilized Tuesday night to provide air quality assessments, said U.S. Air Force Capt. Blake Culver, the team’s science officer. The Louisville-based unit, which remained on site today, has deep expertise in hazardous materials management.
Using a plume model developed with assistance from the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, the unit deployed seven groups around the city to analyze air samples for the presence of toxic volatile organic compounds like benzene and cyanide.
“Those compounds are going to be products of the flames from the crash,” Culver said. “Once the fuel heats to a certain temperature, it’s not jet fuel anymore. It becomes a lot of different things. Then there are all the compounds and materials that are used to fabricate an airplane and the cargo inside it. They’re going to be on fire as well.”
Culver said his team was able to determine in consultation with UPS that none of the cargo was unusually hazardous. Team members then worked with environmental officials to develop a list of specific compounds to measure in the atmosphere. As a result of that analysis, city officials initially instituted a shelter-in-place order for anyone within 5 miles of the crash site. That was reduced to a 1-mile perimeter about three hours later.
Air Force Brig. Gen. Bruce Bancroft, the Kentucky National Guard’s assistant adjutant general for Air, said Guardsmen will remain on duty to assist with the response as necessary.
“The Kentucky Air National Guard shares a deep family connection to UPS and the local community,” he said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone impacted by this horrible tragedy. We will continue to provide support to local, state and federal authorities as long as it’s needed.”
https://www.dvidshub.net/news/550717/kentucky-national-guard-responds-fatal-civilian-plane-crash
Fire breaks out on Virgin Australia plane in landing at Brisbane Airport
A plane’s brakes have caught on fire just moments after it landed at a major Australian airport with almost 180 people on-board.
By Rhiannon Lewin
A fire has broken out on a plane moments after it
landed at Brisbane Airport.
The plane’s brakes caught alight just after the flight from Darwin touched down at about 7pm on Thursday.
None of the 178 people on the flight were injured.
Several fire crews worked to extinguish the blaze.
“The fire was quickly extinguished, and all guests and crew disembarked normally and safely,” Virgin Australia said.
“We thank our crew and airport firefighters for their swift response. The safety of our guests and crew is always our highest priority.”
Engineers are now working to assess what caused the blaze. It is understood the aircraft will be taken out of rotation in the meantime.
Virgin Australia said the fire did not cause any delays at the time, nor was it expected to cause delays at Brisbane Airport on Friday.
Plane goes off runway and down an embankment at Waterbury-Oxford Airport
By Angela Fortuna
An investigation is underway after a plane ran off
the runway and went down an embankment at Waterbury-Oxford Airport on Thursday.
Connecticut State Police responded to the airport around 3:55 p.m. after a private aircraft ran off the runway.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Connecticut Airport Authority (CAA) have been notified.
Fire officials said there was only one person on board - the pilot - and he wasn't injured.
The plane sustained a lot of damage. The scene remains active and the incident is under investigation.
NTSB Prelim: Denney Kitfox
The Engine Began To Violently Shudder, And Engine Power Began To Degrade
Location: Chilton, TX Accident Number: CEN26LA031
Date & Time: October 27, 2025, 05:30 Local Registration: N5241N
Aircraft: Denney Kitfox Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
On October 27, 2025, about 0530 central daylight time, a Denney Kitfox III airplane, N5241N, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Chilton, Texas. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
The flight departed from the Easterwood Field Airport (KCLL), College Station, Texas, about 0445 and was en route to the McGregor Executive Airport (KPWG), Waco, Texas. About 20 nautical miles from KPWG, the engine briefly sputtered. The pilot verified all switches and fuel selectors were in the proper positions. The engine began to violently shudder, and engine power began to degrade. The pilot pitched for best glide and flew towards a nearby airfield.
Shortly after, the engine completely lost power, and the pilot set up for a forced landing to a field. Avoiding a power line pole, the airplane touched down hard in a field. Due to an unseen fence line, the pilot applied the wheel brake hard to nose the airplane over and avoid a collision with the fence. The airplane nose over and came to rest inverted.
Substantial damage was sustained to the fuselage and wings. The airplane was retained for further examination.
FMI: www.ntsb.gov
Today in History
29 Years ago today: On 7 November 1996 ADC Airlines flight 086, a Boeing 727, was destroyed when it crashed into a lagoon near Ejirin, Nigeria. All 144 on board were killed.
| Date: | Thursday 7 November 1996 |
| Time: | 17:03 |
| Type: | Boeing 727-231 |
| Owner/operator: | ADC Airlines |
| Registration: | 5N-BBG |
| MSN: | 20054/718 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1969 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 64956 hours |
| Cycles: | 44613 flights |
| Engine model: | P&W JT8D-9A |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 144 / Occupants: 144 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed, written off |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | 7,5 km W of Ejirin - Nigeria |
| Phase: | Approach |
| Nature: | Passenger - Scheduled |
| Departure airport: | Port Harcourt Airport (PHC/DNPO) |
| Destination airport: | Lagos-Murtala Muhammed International Airport (LOS/DNMM) |
| Investigating agency: | AIPB |
| Confidence Rating: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
Narrative:
ADC Airlines flight 086, a Boeing 727, was destroyed when it crashed into a lagoon near Ejirin, Nigeria. All 144 on board were killed.
The aircraft, a Boeing 727-231, departed Port Harcourt at 15:52. The trainee copilot was Pilot Flying, the captain was Pilot Monitoring on the flight to Lagos.
It was cleared by Port Harcourt ATC to the cruising altitude of FL240.
At 15:47 the flight established initial contact with Lagos Approach Control, and was assigned a transponder code. At 15:54 the flight reported crossing SEPER point. After this position report, the flight appeared not to be maintaining a listening watch, as it gave no reply to two consecutive calls from Approach Control, and then after some time replied to a transmission not meant for it
At the same time a Triax Airlines Boeing 727 (Flight 185) had departed Lagos and was flying at FL160 towards Enugu. The Lagos controller had terminated contact with the Triax aircraft when the ADC crew requested to descend. The permission to descend was delayed to allow a corporate jet (5N-APN) to pass beneath the 727 at FL210.
At 15:59 Lagos Approach Control then cleared the flight to FL160 and subsequently requested the flight to contact Lagos Radar.
The flight was identified by Lagos Radar 41 miles south-east of the airport, and instructed it to fly the heading of 320° to avoid Triax flight 185, and to descend to FL50.
At 16:02.50 Lagos Radar instructed the aircraft two times in succession to maintain heading 300. The captain then took over control from the copilot by stating: "I have it."
At 16:03.08 the flight reported: "I have the traffic... and I continue my heading to 330 to avoid him". This was the last transmission.
The records of the FDR show that flight 086 was maintaining a steady coordinated turn towards heading 330 for the first 10 seconds of the last 50 seconds of the flight. After 15 seconds, the airplane was put in bank angle of 43.2 degrees. It maintained this configuration for 10 seconds before the bank angle increased to 68.8 degrees. This attitude was observed for 5.5 seconds before it was further increased to 83 degrees. The airplane must have suffered from high speed stall and gone into a roll with a nose down attitude.
The aircraft appeared to be recovering just before it impacted the lagoon water because it succeeded in reducing the vertical acceleration from 8.44 to 2.1 G and the bank angle to 61.6 degrees. But it did not have sufficient height to make a full recovery.
The aircraft crashed and disintegrated on impact.
IMMEDIATE CAUSE: "The untidy traffic separation by the radar controller which resulted from the vectoring of ADK 086 towards the track of the opposite traffic TIX 185."
REMOTE CAUSE: "The error of judgement by the pilot of ADK 096 to continue his turn to heading 330 M to avoid TIX 185 and his subsequent collision avoidance manoeuver constituted the remote causes of this accident."
