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Investigators recover voice recorder from Florida jet crash that killed nine people
Investigators have recovered the cockpit voice recorder from a Learjet that crashed in Palm Beach county, Florida, on 1 November, killing all nine people aboard. If its data can be retrieved, it may help explain what the pilots said and how the aircraft lost control in severe weather.
The Bahamas-bound jet encountered turbulence and ice after apparently steering around a large storm and then heading towards a smaller, developing one. The co-pilot reported being thrown up and down by more than 700ft (213 metres), while pieces of the tail’s elevator were found more than a mile from the main impact site. The recorder is being assessed in a Washington laboratory; investigators have not confirmed whether it was damaged or working. A full NTSB investigation usually takes 12 to 18 months.
In short
- The crash killed all nine people aboard the Learjet.
- Investigators are assessing the recovered cockpit voice recorder.
- Its data could clarify how the aircraft lost control in storms.
Explained simply
A Learjet is a small business aircraft that can carry passengers on private or charter flights. Its pilots control the aircraft using flight instruments and cockpit systems, while air traffic controllers provide information and help manage its route.
The US National Transportation Safety Board investigates civil aircraft crashes, gathering evidence such as aircraft parts, weather records and flight data. A cockpit voice recorder captures sounds in the cockpit, including pilots’ conversations and radio calls; investigators use it alongside other evidence to understand how a flight unfolded.
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Originally published by The Guardian as “Investigators recover voice recorder from Florida jet crash that killed nine people”.