The cockpit voice recorder from the doomed medical transport jet that crashed in northeast Philadelphia Friday evening is being examined the National Transportation Safety Board in Washington, D.C. in hopes that it will shed light on why the plane crashed into Cottman Avenue.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy visited the crash site Monday and said it will take about a month for a preliminary report on the black box’s information, noting it’s a voice recorder, not a data recorder. And he promised “transparency” in the investigation.
The device was found eight feet into the ground at a hole made by the plane’s impact.
“Whether it’s the speed or location of the aircraft, we will be able to get some data, hopefully, off that device,” said Duffy. It could reveal whether rainy weather that evening was a factor, or if the cause was mechanical or health-related, he said.
Mayor Cherelle Parker confirmed that so far seven people are known to have died in the crash—six on the plane and one who was in a car on the ground. The plane was taking a pediatric patient and her mother home to Mexico after the child was treated at Shriners Hospital for Children in Philadelphia.
Twenty-four others were injured, she said. At least two remain in critical condition and two are in stable condition.
At a press conference on Monday, Parker thanked Duffy for coming to see the site himself and Gov. Josh Shapiro for his ongoing support.
The jet crash was “the worst black swan event” that the city has faced in years, she said. But it is “resilient” and remains strong, she said. Officials breathed “a sigh of relief that the black box was found.”
All city, state, and federal “partners” are working together in a “collaborative spirit.” She also thanked their elected representatives for their support.
“Everyone standing up together in this crisis,” said Parker. “One Philly strong.”
Parker and other officials visited some of the victims in a hospital and also thanked emergency room workers for taking care of those injured.
The jet crashed less than a minute after taking off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport, a smaller secondary airport about 3.5 miles from the crash site. Parker said the incident, while horrific, could have been much worse if the plane had struck a gas line. As it was, five houses were set ablaze and numerous cars were charred.
The jet was en route to Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri before heading on to Mexico.
Gov. Josh Shapiro said there was “a thin line between tragedy and triumph, between danger and safety. A millisecond could have claimed many more lives in our community.”
Cottman Avenue divides a residential and a very busy commercial area that includes the Roosevelt Mall.
While Shapiro was at the scene Friday evening, he saw a person “donning a kelly green hoodie and…running to help others.”
Both Shapiro and Parker praised the police and fire departments for their swift response and “extraordinary leadership.” Shapiro thanked Duffy, who had only been confirmed a week earlier, for his quick response.
Parker noted the city is relying on its state and federal partners.
A reporter asked Parker about the examination of DNA at the scene and whether anyone else could have been killed by the plane crash. Parker responded that is why they are not giving absolute casualty numbers but “going to allow our experts to continue to do their work.”
The NTSB is the lead agency investigating the crash. If anyone finds debris they should not touch it but instead report it to: [email protected]
The Roosevelt Boulevard has reopened but Cottman Avenue remains closed between Bustleton Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard.
Parker and city officials will hold a town hall meeting to answer residents’ questions at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Solis Cohen Elementary School, 7001 Horrocks Street, Philadelphia.