Local pilot helping out in wake of UPS plane crash
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – Louisville’s mayor says the death toll from last week’s UPS plane crash has risen to 14 after one victim died at the hospital Friday. Officials confirm the bodies of all victims have now been recovered.
The National Transportation Safety Board says the plane was carrying 38,000 gallons of fuel and was departing for Honolulu when its left engine caught fire and detached during takeoff.
As the community continues to grieve, one pilot is stepping up to help. Sidney Martin started a GoFundMe campaign to provide meals for air traffic controllers who witnessed the crash and have been working without pay during the federal government shutdown.
“I was laying in bed just thinking, I can’t do nothing. I want to do something to help out,” Martin said. “They had to witness the devastating crash and then continue to work to keep others safe.”
What started as a modest $1,000 goal has grown rapidly, with donations now totaling nearly $5,000. On Friday, Martin delivered food to air traffic controllers at Louisville International Airport and Bowman Field — and plans to bring meals to the same tower again Monday, followed by Blue Grass Airport on Tuesday.
“Everybody there was so grateful and said thank you,” she said. “They were all super excited to see that people were pitching in and thinking of them.”
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