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Black box from doomed Learjet recovered by NTSB a week after crash that killed nine – and it appears to have survived the huge fireball explosion intact
The NTSB has recovered the cockpit voice recorder from a Learjet 60 that crashed near West Palm Beach on 1 November, killing all nine people on board. The recorder could help investigators establish what happened during the flight, whose cause remains unknown.
The aircraft was travelling from Austin, Texas, to the Bahamas when it plunged to the ground and burst into flames. The pilot and co-pilot reportedly discussed turbulence and ice forming on the wings shortly before losing control; the recorder is being assessed in Washington, and it is not yet clear whether it worked or whether its data can be retrieved. Investigators have also recovered part of an engine and completed excavation at the impact site.
In short
- NTSB recovered the Learjet’s cockpit voice recorder.
- Nine people died in the 1 November crash.
- Investigators are checking whether the recorder’s data can be retrieved.
Explained simply
A cockpit voice recorder captures conversations and sounds in the cockpit, giving investigators a record of the moments before a crash. It is one part of an aircraft’s flight recorder equipment; it does not by itself explain what caused an accident.
The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigates civil aviation accidents. It is examining the Learjet crash near West Palm Beach, including the recorder and recovered wreckage, to establish what happened during the flight from Austin to the Bahamas.
The recorder’s condition and whether its data can be retrieved are still being assessed. Investigators will compare any recording with physical evidence and other information about the flight before drawing conclusions about the cause.