Use of this site indicates your agreement to the Terms of Service (updated 08/09/2001).

In Washington
2 black boxes recovered
Charred flight data, damaged cockpit voice recorders found in debris at Pentagon

By Matt Kelley / Associated Press

Comment on this story Send this story to a friend Get Home Delivery

   WASHINGTON -- Searchers today found the flight data and cockpit voice recorders from the hijacked plane that crashed into the Pentagon, Department of Defense officials said.
   The two "black boxes," crucial to uncovering details about the doomed flight's last moments, were recovered at about 4 a.m., said Army Lt. Col. George Rhynedance, a Pentagon spokesman.
   Rhynedance said the recorders were in the possession of the FBI, and that officials from the National Transportation Safety Board were providing technical assistance in reading any data they contain.
   Dick Bridges, deputy manager for Arlington County, Va., said the voice recorder was damaged on the outside and the flight data recorder was charred. But he said the FBI still was confident the data can be recovered from both devices.
   Bridges said the recorders were found "right where the plane came into the building."
   Earlier, a fire that flared in the debris had set back search efforts following the crash of American Airlines Flight 77. Government authorities said 190 people -- a combination of military and civilian employees on the ground and the passengers in the plane -- were believed to have died. Late Thursday, rescuers worked to shore up unsteady parts of the building but flames erupted. The flare-up sent black smoke billowing hundreds of feet into the air over Washington.
   Firefighters put out the blaze within 20 minutes. Authorities safely evacuated rescue workers who were clearing away debris inside the building, said Capt. Scott Graham, head of the Montgomery County, Md., search and rescue squad.
   "This is just a minor time setback," Graham said.
   Human remains pulled from the Pentagon were being taken to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware to be identified. The first two helicopters carrying remains arrived at the base Thursday afternoon, a base spokesman said.
   In other developments, Congress was evacuated Thursday afternoon because of a suspicious package.
   The city remained under a state of emergency with Humvees and military police in camouflage stationed on almost every downtown corner. The emergency will remain in effect indefinitely, city officials said.