New photos of the private plane crash in Philadelphia have revealed the crumpled black box left over from the craft. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported that the black box was found buried eight feet underground at the crash site. The incident involved a Learjet 55 operated by Jet Rescue Air Ambulance departing from Northeast Philadelphia Airport.
Jet Rescue Air Ambulance confirmed that there were four crew members and two passengers on board at the time of the crash. The individuals included a pilot, copilot, physician, paramedic, a pediatric patient, and her mother, all of whom were Mexican nationals.
The NTSB announced the recovery of the black box on Sunday but did not release any photos of the device. According to the NTSB, the components will be sent to the NTSB Vehicle Recorders Laboratory in Washington, DC for evaluation. The investigators have also retrieved both engines, with wreckage recovery efforts ongoing.
Black boxes, also known as flight data recorders, play a crucial role in reconstructing the events leading up to a plane crash. These devices are typically orange to enhance visibility in wreckage and are usually located in the tail section of the aircraft, considered the most survivable part of the plane according to the NTSB.
The tragic crash resulted in the loss of all individuals on board the plane, as well as one person who was struck on the ground. The passengers and crew members were all Mexican nationals. Additionally, 38-year-old Jason Rodriguez, who was in the vicinity at the time of the crash, is currently reported missing by his family, stating that he was shopping when they last heard from him.
