The family of one of the pilots killed in a UPS plane that crashed in Dubai says he grew up in Eau Claire.

38-year-old First Officer Matthew Bell is a 1990 graduate of North High School. His sister tells WEAU 13 News he went on to attend UW-Eau Claire before moving to Florida for flight school.

The Aviation Authority for the United Arab Emirates says the UPS cargo plane crashed in Dubai Friday Night. UPS confirmed the Boeing 747 crashed shortly after takeoff on its way to Cologne, Germany.

The company says the crash also killed 48-year-old Captain Doug Lampe of Louisville, Ky. The National Transportation Safety Board dispatched an aviation investigation team to assist United Arab Emirates authorities in the investigation of the crash.

Bell's sister says family was everything to Matt and that he was a wonderful man that stood by all those he cared about. She says he has a wife and young daughter in Florida.

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ORIGINAL STORY:

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- Crew members from Kentucky and Florida have been identified as the two people killed when a UPS cargo plane crashed shortly after takeoff outside Dubai

The Atlanta-based package delivery company said in a news release Saturday that the crash killed 48-year-old Captain Doug Lampe of Louisville, Ky., and 38-year-old First Officer Matthew Bell of Sanford, Fla.

Lampe has been with UPS since 1995. Bell has been with UPS since 2006. Both crewmembers flew out of UPS's Anchorage, Alaska, pilot base.

The National Transportation Safety Board was dispatching an aviation investigation team to assist United Arab Emirates authorities in the investigation of Friday's crash.
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UPS PRESS RELEASE:

At the request of the families, UPS can now confirm that two of our crewmembers, Captain Doug Lampe of Louisville, Kentucky, and First Officer Matthew Bell of Sanford, Florida, lost their lives in the crash of Flight 6 yesterday, Sept. 3, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The two pilots were flying a 747-400 en route to Cologne, Germany, when it crashed near Dubai International Airport shortly after takeoff.

"This is a terrible tragedy, and all of us at UPS extend our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of both of these crewmembers," said UPS CEO Scott Davis. "Our thoughts and prayers will continue to be with them during this difficult time."

The UPS Family Assistance Team is working with the victims' families to help them in their time of need.

Captain Lampe, 48, has been with UPS since 1995. First Officer Bell, 38, has been with UPS since 2006. Both crewmembers flew out of UPS's Anchorage, Alaska domicile, or pilot base.

The aircraft, tail number N571UP, was just three years old, entering UPS service off the Boeing production line in September 2007. The airframe had flown 9977 hours, completing 1764 takeoffs and landings. It was up to date on all maintenance, having just completed a major inspection in June 2010.

UPS owns 12 747-400s, eight of which are new, and four of which have been purchased from other carriers and adapted for UPS use. The aircraft, which has a payload capacity of nearly 258,600 pounds, is used on long-range international routes, such as the regular Dubai-Cologne routing.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is dispatching an aviation investigation team to assist the General Civil Aviation Authority (GACC) of the United Arab Emirates in the crash investigation. The GCAA will take the lead on the investigation and release all information on the progress of the investigation.

NTSB Chairman Deborah Hersman has designated senior air safety investigator Bill English as the U.S. accredited representative. His team will include NTSB specialists in the areas of human performance, fire, operations and systems. The team will also include technical advisors from the FAA, Boeing, UPS, GE and the Independent Pilots Association.

A UPS team has arrived in Dubai at this time and will cooperate with authorities in the investigation.

"We established an internal command center within minutes of learning of this tragedy. It will be staffed around the clock with experts from every part of our operation," said UPS Airlines President Bob Lekites. "Safe, secure operations are our top priorities for our employees, our customers, and our public stakeholders."