Voice recorder recovered from site of deadly Learjet crash in Florida

According to information provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on Monday, the cockpit voice recorder of the business jet that crashed from the sky amid bad weather in Florida last week, claiming 9 lives, has been seized. The Learjet, which was headed to the Bahamas, slammed into the ground at Greenacres on November 1 and turned into a massive fireball, and the recorder was found at that very crash site.

If data can be successfully retrieved from the device, it could provide crucial details regarding the conversation between the pilots, especially as they were facing bad weather or turbulence, ice was accumulating on the wings, and they were losing control of the aircraft. However, there was no immediate information on whether the recorder was damaged or whether it was working from the start. The NTSB has stated that the device is being examined at a laboratory in Washington.

Regarding the images posted online by the agency, in which the orange metal casing of the recorder can be seen, aviation safety expert Jeff Guzzetti told The Associated Press that it appears to be in good condition. Guzzetti said there is a high probability that any information on the recorder has remained intact. If they can retrieve it and it belongs to the accident flight, it will prove to be very helpful for investigators. He also noted that when the NTSB recovered a cockpit voice recorder from a medical transport plane that crashed in Philadelphia in January 2025, it was revealed that the device had likely not been working for many years.

Eyewitnesses also recorded dramatic videos in which the business jet was seen nose-diving toward the ground, and air traffic control transmissions recorded the distressing moments when the pilots realized their fate. But the cockpit voice recorder could also shed light on other aspects of this crash, including why the Learjet headed straight into a rapidly developing small storm instead of passing around a large storm cell.

Investigators stated that pieces of a key tail component known as an elevator were found more than a mile away from the main crater, confirming that the aircraft had begun to break apart in the air before impact. The co-pilot told air traffic controllers that the plane was being tossed up and down at an altitude of more than 700 feet, or 213 meters, and they requested a better route to pass through the area.

Generally, it takes the NTSB 12 to 18 months to complete an investigation into a plane crash, but complex cases can take longer. Approximately 400 NTSB employees are currently working on more than 1,200 active investigations. These investigators will review the aircraft's maintenance records and the past history of any problems with the plane. They will also question officials from 'Upper Jets', the company that operated this flight, as well as air traffic controllers and people working at the airport in Austin, Texas.