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Former colleagues are mourning the three pilots killed in a Above cargo plane crashes louisville, kentuckyAs relatives of a man pulled from the debris have confirmed, he is among those who died.
Captain Richard Wartenberg, First Officer Took Truitt and International Relief Officer Capt. Dana Diamond were on board when the crash occurred during takeoff Tuesday at UPS Worldport, the company’s global aviation hub at Muhammad Ali International Airport.
At least 10 other people died, including Matt Sweets, who suffered extensive burns. Many victims have still not been identified.
K Todd Inman National Transportation Safety BoardThe plane was cleared for takeoff when a major fire broke out in the left wing and the engine collapsed, the man leading the ongoing investigation said. Inman said Friday that a recording indicated that a bell rang repeatedly for 25 seconds in the cockpit as the pilots tried to control the plane.
Dramatic video captured the plane crashing into businesses and bursting into flames. Footage from phones, cars and security cameras has helped investigators piece together the incidents from many different angles.
Wartenberg, Air Force veteran
From 1994 to 2016, Wartenberg served with the 445th Airlift Wing at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio, according to a statement from the wing.
The retired lieutenant colonel and former Reservist received his commission through the Air Force Officer Training School and has been qualified in the C-141 Starlifter, C-5 Galaxy and C-17 Globemaster III throughout his career. The release said he had logged more than 5,000 military flying hours when he retired as a command pilot.
In 2010 he received the Meritorious Service Medal.
According to public records, Wartenberg lived in Independence, Kentucky, south of Cincinnati.
He also spent more than two decades as a member of the Ohio Valley Region Porsche Club of America, a group of Porsche vehicle enthusiasts. The club organizes events such as autocross and high-performance driving education at regional sports car tracks.
Truitt, former flight instructor
Truitt had been a pilot for UPS since 2021, flying MD-11 airliners, and lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico, according to his LinkedIn profile. Previously, he was a captain for SkyWest Airlines and a flight instructor at Bode Aviation. She studied Spanish language and literature at the University of New Mexico and graduated in 2006.
John H. Bode, president and CEO of Bode Aviation, called Truitt “a dear friend, a trusted colleague, and a model of what it means to be a true professional aviator.”
“Truitt demonstrated an unwavering commitment to excellence and earned the respect and admiration of all who worked with him,” Bode wrote in a statement. “Through diligence, humility and a relentless pursuit of mastery, Lee advanced to serve as a senior flight instructor and charter pilot, where his discipline, composure and honesty became the standard by which others measured themselves. His dedication to his craft was matched only by his generosity of spirit – he constantly returned to mentor our students and instructors, guiding the next generation of aviators with patience, knowledge and care.”
Diamond, former county emergency chief
Diamond previously served as commissioner and chief of the Bastrop County Emergency Services District No. 1 in Texas. The emergency services agency said in a social media tribute that it was “deeply saddened” by his death.
“He ran toward danger so the rest of us could turn our backs on him, and that kind of devotion to his community left a mark on everyone,” the agency said. “He leaves behind not only a legacy of service, but also memories of fellow firefighters and the community he served. His contributions to the citizens of Bastrop County Texas are immeasurable.
“His family will be comforted knowing that he served to make our community a better place and that we can honor his memory.”
According to public records, Diamond lived in Caldwell, Texas.
Sweets, a father and a ‘caring man’
Matt Sweets, who was badly burned in the fire and was hospitalized, died Thursday afternoon, according to a social media post from his sister Michelle Sweets.
“For now, please keep his girlfriend Brooke and her two young children, as well as the rest of us, in your prayers,” he wrote.
Carrie Ryan, another sister of Matt Sweets, thanked “the brave man who pulled him from the wreckage and helped him.” But she said there was nothing anyone could do to save her brother. He said his children don’t deserve this.
She wrote, “But we’ll make sure they grow up knowing that their dad was the most loyal, kind and caring man – and how lucky they are to have you watching over them.”
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Mattis and Lawler reported from Nashville, Tennessee.