Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg confirmed that Alain Rodriguez Colina, the 15th victim of the UPS plane crash in early November, has sadly passed away after spending nearly two months in the hospital. The tragic news was shared in a Facebook post on Christmas morning, revealing that Colina succumbed to injuries sustained in the crash.
The UPS Flight 2976 disaster claimed a total of 15 lives when the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 aircraft, carrying 38,000 gallons of fuel, exploded shortly after departing from Kentucky’s Muhammad Ali International Airport in Louisville.
Following the incident, social media circulated images and videos of the engulfed plane, prompting hundreds of firefighters to respond to the scene to extinguish the fires. Local authorities urged residents to report any debris found to aid investigators in determining the cause of the tragedy.
Identified victims included Alain Rodriguez Colina, Capt. Richard Wartenberg, First Officer Lee Truitt, and International Relief Officer Capt. Dana Diamond. The local coroner’s office completed the process of recovering, identifying, and notifying families of the victims within eight days of the crash.
The National Transportation Safety Board continues its investigation to determine the cause of the fatal crash, with an estimated completion timeline of about a year. Federal investigators released striking photos in late November showing the engine detachment from the UPS cargo plane in a sequence of dramatic images.
Aviation experts highlighted the importance of regular inspections and maintenance procedures to prevent potential issues like fatigue cracks, emphasizing the need for vigilance in monitoring critical components for safety.