UPS Flight 2976 claims 15th victim on Christmas day

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg announced a 15th death connected to the UPS Plane Crash.

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Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg announced heartbreaking news on Christmas Day: Alain Rodriguez Colina has become the 15th fatality from the UPS Flight 2976 crash that devastated the community nearly two months ago.

"It is with great sadness that I just learned Alain Rodriguez Colina has passed," Greenberg said in a statement. "Alain is the 15th victim of the UPS Flight 2976 accident. He suffered severe injuries at the time of the crash and passed earlier this Christmas Day."

Rodriguez Colina had been fighting for his life since November 4, when the UPS cargo plane's left engine separated during takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport. The MD-11F crashed shortly after 5:14 p.m., impacting multiple buildings, including a UPS warehouse, a petroleum recycling facility, and Grade A Auto-parts.

The crash initially killed 14 people- three crew members aboard the aircraft and 11 people on the ground. Twenty-three others were injured, including Rodriguez Colina, who sustained severe injuries that he ultimately could not overcome.

According to the National Transportation Safety Board's preliminary report, fatigue cracks in the left engine pylon's mounting components caused the catastrophic separation. The aircraft never climbed higher than about 30 feet above ground level before crashing, with wreckage spreading approximately 3,000 feet from the initial impact.

The tragedy has deeply affected Louisville, where UPS operates its massive Worldport hub. The Louisville Orchestra held a tribute concert last month honoring the victims, first responders, and UPS employees who supported the response efforts.

The NTSB investigation into the crash remains ongoing.