Three Victims Identified in Louisville UPS Plane Crash That Killed 12: Veteran Pilots Among the Dead

Three Victims Identified in Louisville UPS Plane Crash That Killed 12: Veteran Pilots Among the Dead

Here is a detailed write-up on three of the victims who have been identified in the tragic UPS Airlines cargo plane crash near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky:

The Accident

On November 4, 2025, a UPS cargo jet — a McDonnell Douglas MD‑11F — operating as Flight 2976 crashed shortly after take-off from Louisville, Kentucky. 

The aircraft’s left engine separated from its wing during the take-off roll, which was captured on video. 

The death toll has been confirmed for at least 12 people, and in some reports has risen to 13. 

Of those confirmed, all three crew members onboard the aircraft perished. 

Identified Victims

1) Capt. Richard Wartenberg

The first of the three crew members identified. He was the captain of the flight. 

Capt. Wartenberg had served with UPS and, in his role, carried responsibility for the aircraft, the crew in the cockpit, and the safe execution of the flight. His identification offers a human face to one of the most senior roles lost in this tragedy.

2) First Officer Lee Truitt

The second crew member identified. He was the first officer on board Flight 2976. 

The first officer plays a vital support role to the captain, handling many of the flying duties, assisting in decision-making, and ensuring safe operations. His passing marks a significant loss for the aviation community and for UPS.

3) Capt. Dana Diamond

The third person publicly identified among the victims. She was listed as “International Relief Officer Captain” by UPS. 

Her role suggests a special/relief assignment — indicating her responsibilities may have included international or special-mission flights for UPS. Her presence on a domestic U.S. flight underscores the flexibility of her assignment and the trust placed in her by the operator.

Impact & Reflections

The identification of these three crew members puts names and lives behind the statistics of the crash. They were experienced professionals entrusted with the flight’s safety. Their loss is felt deeply by their families, colleagues at UPS, the aviation industry, and the Louisville community.

Beyond the crew, the crash impacted people on the ground — employees and others in nearby businesses and structures — and the environment around the crash site has been described as “apocalyptic.” 

This makes the tragedy even broader than just the loss of the three onboard.

UPS issued a statement saying:

“Words can’t express the sorrow we feel over the heartbreaking Flight 2976 accident. … This continues to be an incredibly sad time for our entire UPS family.” 

What’s Next

The investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is ongoing. Among the key focus areas:

• How and why the left engine separated during take-off.  
• The sequence of events that allowed the aircraft to lift off briefly, clear the runway end, and then crash into structures off airport property.  
• Clarifying how many people were on the ground, identifying all victims, and assessing the full scale of the impact.
• Reviewing the role of the aircraft load, fuel quantity, and structural integrity in the chain of events.

For the families of Capt. Wartenberg, First Officer Truitt, and Capt. Diamond, the public acknowledgement of their identities is a first step, but their grief and sense of loss will endure. For the community, the crash offers a sobering reminder of the risks inherent in aviation operations and of the interconnected nature of air-cargo hubs and their surrounding neighborhoods.

In Their Own Words

Although individual personal statements from the identified crew have not been widely published, the UPS corporate message highlights the depth of the tragedy:

“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 a priority.” 

If you like, I can research and provide more detailed personal background (career history, family, etc.) for each of the three identified victims — would you like me to pull that together?