Investigators recover cockpit voice recorder from Florida business jet crash site
The National Transportation Safety Board retrieved the device from the Learjet that crashed on November 1, killing nine people.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recovered the cockpit voice recorder from a business jet that crashed in Florida last week, according to The Times of India. The Learjet, which was travelling to the Bahamas, struck the ground and caught fire on November 1 during severe weather, resulting in the deaths of all nine people on board.
The NTSB confirmed the retrieval of the recorder from the crash site and stated that the device has been transported to a Washington laboratory for analysis. Aviation safety expert Jeff Guzzetti told the Associated Press that the orange metal casing of the recorder appeared to be in relatively good condition in agency photographs.
Investigators believe the data could provide details regarding conversations between pilots as they encountered ice accumulation and severe turbulence. The aircraft was reportedly experiencing vertical movements of more than 700 feet (213 metres) before the crash, and the co-pilot had requested an alternative route to avoid weather conditions.
Fragments of the aircraft's elevator were found more than a mile from the main impact site, suggesting the plane began breaking apart while still in the air. The NTSB is also examining maintenance records and plans to interview air traffic controllers and representatives from Upper Jets, the company that operated the flight.
The NTSB typically requires between 12 and 18 months to finish an accident investigation, though complex cases may take longer. The agency is currently managing more than 1,200 active investigations.