Local News
UPS pilots killed in Louisville plane crash identified as Richard Warternberg, Dana Diamond and Lee Truitt
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY — United Parcel Service (UPS) has confirmed the identities of the three flight crew members who tragically lost their lives in the crash of UPS Flight 2976 near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on Tuesday evening.
The victims have been identified as:
- Captain Richard Wartenberg
- Relief Captain Dana Diamond
- First Officer Lee Truitt from Albuquerque
In a statement released Thursday, UPS expressed its profound grief over the loss, saying,
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of our colleagues Captain Richard Wartenberg, Relief Captain Dana Diamond, and First Officer Lee Truitt. Our hearts are with their families, friends, and the entire UPS family during this difficult time.”
The three veteran pilots were aboard UPS Flight 2976, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 cargo aircraft, when it crashed shortly after takeoff from Louisville at approximately 5:15 p.m. on November 4, 2025.
The plane was en route to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu when it experienced a catastrophic failure and went down in an industrial area near Grade Lane and Fern Valley Road.
Newly released dashcam footage captured the horrifying final moments of the aircraft as it descended rapidly and erupted into a massive fireball upon impact.
The explosion ignited multiple nearby buildings and vehicles, sending debris and flames into the air and causing widespread destruction throughout the area.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene as dense black smoke billowed over the city. Officials have confirmed at least 12 fatalities, including a young child, with 15 people injured and 16 still unaccounted for.
Authorities caution that the death toll may continue to rise as search and recovery operations progress.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear described the incident as “catastrophic,” urging prayers for the victims, their families, and the first responders.
“That number is going to get larger,” Beshear said during a press briefing, referring to the increasing casualty count as recovery efforts continue.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has assumed control of the investigation. Early video analysis suggests that the plane’s left engine detached from the wing during takeoff, moments before the crash — a key piece of evidence that will play a crucial role in determining the cause of the disaster.
Authorities have also provided the following operational updates:
- Death Toll: 12 confirmed fatalities, additional victims expected
- Reunification Center: Established at 2911 Taylor Blvd for affected families
- Search & Rescue: Ongoing in surrounding structures
- Shelter-in-Place: Reduced to a ¼-mile radius around the crash site
- Airport Operations: One runway open; Runway 17R/35L closed until November 15
Meanwhile, Louisville Metro Police have issued a public warning about scammers attempting to exploit grieving families by impersonating investigators and demanding payment for information on missing loved ones.
Authorities stressed that no legitimate agency will ever request money in exchange for updates and urged residents to report suspicious communications immediately to LMPD at (502) 574-LMPD (5673).
Additional dashcam footage from nearby motorists showed a massive shockwave rippling across the area as the aircraft exploded on impact, offering investigators valuable insight into one of the most devastating aviation disasters in Louisville’s history.
UPS stated it is working closely with federal authorities and continues to support the families of the victims. The company’s Worldport facility, which serves as its global air hub, remains operational under limited capacity.
Located in Louisville, the 5.2-million-square-foot hub employs over 20,000 people and handles more than 300 flights daily, sorting over 400,000 packages per hour.
Governor Beshear concluded with a message of solidarity:
“Please pray for the pilots, crew, and everyone affected. First responders are onsite, and we will share more information as it becomes available.”
UPDATE: Search efforts have been suspended following the sinking of the commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean off the coast of Gloucester, Massachusetts, marking another tragic loss for the city’s historic fishing community.
The U.S. Coast Guard was alerted early Friday morning by the vessel’s emergency beacon after it activated in the water; no mayday call was received.
Responders located a debris field, an unoccupied life raft, and one deceased individual in the water.
Six other crew members remain missing and are presumed lost after an extensive air and sea search yielded no additional results.
The Coast Guard cited frigid water temperatures, challenging weather conditions, and the vast search area in its decision to suspend operations.
GLOUCESTER, Mass. — Authorities have identified all seven individuals who lost their lives after the commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean sank approximately 25 miles off Cape Ann, Massachusetts, early Friday morning, marking a devastating loss for Gloucester’s historic fishing community.
The Lily Jean, a commercial fishing vessel measuring between 72 and 80 feet in length and homeported in Gloucester—the nation’s oldest working fishing port—activated its emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) at approximately 6:50 a.m. Friday while returning to port.
No mayday call was received, and subsequent attempts to contact the vessel were unsuccessful.
The U.S. Coast Guard immediately launched a large-scale search and rescue operation, deploying an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and multiple surface assets to the area of the distress signal.
Crews located a debris field and an unoccupied life raft roughly 25 miles offshore near the EPIRB activation site, confirming the vessel had sunk to the ocean floor. One deceased individual was recovered from the water.
The remaining six crew members were later presumed lost after extensive search efforts yielded no additional results.
Officials confirmed that seven people were aboard the vessel at the time of the incident, revising earlier reports that indicated six.
The seven individuals who perished aboard the Lily Jean are:
- John Paul Rousanidis, 33, of Salem/Peabody, Massachusetts
- Sean Therrien, 44, of Lynn/Peabody, Massachusetts
- Freeman Short, of the Marshfield/Scituate area
- Captain Gus Sanfilippo, a well-known and respected Gloucester fisherman
- Paul Beal Sr., deckhand
- Paul Beal Jr., deckhand and son of Paul Beal Sr.
- Jada Samitt, 22, of Virginia
Jada Samitt, the seventh crew member identified, was serving aboard the vessel in the role of a federal fisheries observer with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). She had recently relocated to Massachusetts to pursue her passion for environmental biology, graduating last year. Family members said joining the Lily Jean crew was her first major professional role at sea and a lifelong dream.
Her aunt, Heather Michaels, described Samitt as a compassionate and driven young woman who deeply respected her captain and dedicated herself fully to her work. “She put her heart and soul into this opportunity,” family members said, noting her commitment to marine conservation and the fishing community.
Officials said the Lily Jean had reported taking on water shortly before contact was lost.
The vessel is now presumed fully submerged.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through Gloucester’s close-knit maritime community.
Ashley Sullivan, a local business owner who knew the vessel’s owner, emphasized the daily risks faced by commercial fishermen. “I hope people really take a moment to understand the sacrifices these men and women make to put food on our tables,” she said. “This is heartbreaking.”
Massachusetts State Senator Bruce Tarr also expressed condolences, highlighting Gloucester’s deep fishing heritage. “Gloucester has a long fishing history, and that history includes tragic loss,” Tarr said. “It appears we are experiencing another of those painful chapters.”
Governor Maura Healey released a statement saying she was “heartbroken over the devastating news out of Gloucester,” adding that her administration has offered full assistance to local officials and the Coast Guard. She extended prayers to the victims’ families and the broader fishing community across Cape Ann and the Commonwealth.
Community members and local businesses have continued to share messages of remembrance and solidarity. Taylor Hunt, a relative of Freeman Short, posted a tribute honoring the crew, writing in part: “The salt has been in our blood for generations… A man is not lost while the sea remembers his name. Fair winds and following seas.”
The Lily Jean had previously been featured on the History Channel series Nor’Easter Men, which documented the dangers and demands of New England’s commercial fishing industry.
While search operations have concluded, the Coast Guard and relevant agencies continue to review the circumstances surrounding the sinking. Officials have stated that further updates will be released as additional information becomes available.
Authorities have urged the public to keep the victims’ families and Gloucester’s fishing community in their thoughts and prayers during this period of profound loss.