Dana Diamond, pilot killed in UPS crash, remembered as former fire chief who 'ran toward danger'

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY: Dana Diamond, a former Bastrop County Emergency Services District services chief, was among the crew members killed in the United Parcel Service (UPS) cargo plane crash.

The MD-11 cargo plane crashed shortly after take‑off from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport near Louisville, Kentucky, on Tuesday, November 4.

Dana Diamond remembered for dedicating his life to serving others

Dana Diamond, who previously served as Commissioner and Chief of Bastrop County Emergency Services District (ESD) No 1, was identified among the victims recovered from the wreckage, alongside crew members Capt Richard Wartenberg and First Officer Lee Truitt.

Current Chief David Gahagan described Diamond as someone who “ran towards danger so the rest of us can step back from it,” adding that his “contribution to the citizens of Bastrop County, Texas, are immeasurable” in a statement to FOX 7 Austin. 

He also said the agency leadership conveyed deep sadness over Diamond’s death, noting that “he leaves behind not only a legacy of service but also cherished memories with fellow firefighters and the community he served.”

Condolences poured in, with Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg urging the community to unite in this time of grief. “Our hearts are with their families, friends, and colleagues during this unimaginable time. Louisville stands with the entire UPS community as we mourn this tremendous loss together,” hr wrote in an X (formerly Twitter) post. 

Another highlighted Diamond’s service, writing, “Dana dedicated his life to serving others, and his contributions to the citizens of District 17 are immeasurable.”

One individual highlighting the courage of the crew wrote, “Rest in peace to the UPS MD‑11 crew. I know they fought to the very end. God bless them and their families.”

Death toll rises to 14

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg announced on Friday that the death toll has risen to 14. Rescue and recovery operations are ongoing in Kentucky, with at least nine people still reported missing at the time of writing.

The 34‑year‑old aircraft had been grounded for six weeks in San Antonio to repair a crack in the fuel tank.

National Transportation Safety Board(NTSB) claimed the left engine detached from the wing during the take‑off roll, while the jet was fully fuelled for a nine‑hour flight to Honolulu, Hawaii.

The crash created a debris field stretching nearly half a mile and impacted nearby industrial buildings, including a petroleum recycling facility and an auto salvage yard. 

Investigators have recovered both the cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder (the “black boxes”), and are now combing through maintenance logs, including the recent work done in San Antonio. 

In response to the accident, UPS temporarily grounded its fleet of MD‑11 aircraft “out of an abundance of caution.”

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