Investigators recover key components in Philadelphia jet crash investigation

By Yasin Gungor

ISTANBUL (AA) - The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced Sunday that investigators have recovered the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and enhanced ground proximity warning system (EGPWS) of a medical transport jet that crashed shortly after takeoff in Philadelphia late last week.

The CVR, found at a depth of 8 feet (2.4 meters) at the initial impact site, and EGPWS, which could also contain flight data, were sent to the NTSB Vehicle Recorders Laboratory in Washington, DC for analysis, NTSB said.

Wreckage recovery is ongoing, with all remains, including two engines that are also recovered, to be transported to the state of Delaware for further examination, the board added.

The crash, which occurred shortly after takeoff from Northeast Philadelphia Airport at 6.06 p.m. (2306GMT) on Friday, killed all six people on board including a child patient, the patient's mother, two medical personnel and two pilots -- all of them Mexican nationals -- and one person on the ground.

A preliminary report is expected within 30 days, while the final report, detailing the probable cause and contributing factors, could take 12 to 24 months.