Black Recorder Found After Doomed Florida Jet Crash Could Reveal Pilots’ Final Moments

Recorder Under Evaluation

The National Transportation Safety Board is assessing the cockpit voice recorder at a laboratory in Washington. Investigators have not said whether it was damaged or functioning before the crash.

Images shared by the agency showed an orange metal casing that appeared to be in decent condition, aviation safety expert Jeff Guzzetti told The Associated Press. Guzzetti said there was a reasonable chance that information remained on the device, and that recovering it from the accident flight would greatly assist investigators.

Weather And Flight Path

The business jet plunged nose-first into the ground amid severe weather. Video captured the descent, while air traffic control recordings documented the pilots’ communications as they recognized the danger.

The recorder may help explain why the Learjet steered around a large storm cell before entering a smaller one that was developing rapidly. The co-pilot told controllers the aircraft was being tossed up and down by more than 700 feet (213 meters) and asked for a better route.

Evidence Of Breakup

Investigators found pieces of the elevator, a tail component that controls an aircraft’s pitch, more than a mile from the main crater. They said the discovery showed the plane began breaking apart before it hit the ground. Guzzetti also cited a previous case as a caution: the recorder recovered from a medical transport plane crash in Philadelphia in January 2025, which killed seven people, was likely not working for several years.

Investigation Continues

The NTSB generally needs 12 to 18 months to finish a crash investigation, although complex cases may take longer. The agency has about 400 employees handling more than 1,200 active investigations. Investigators plan to interview representatives of Upper Jets, the flight operator, along with air traffic controllers and airport staff in Austin, Texas, where the plane took off.