THE US NAVY has found the cockpit-voice and flight-data recorders of the chartered Boeing 757, which plunged into the sea north of the Dominican Republic on 6 February.
An USN recovery vessel retrieved the critical components from the aircraft, operated by a Turkish aircraft charter company, Birgenair, which crashed soon after departure from the airport at Puerto Plata. The equipment has been delivered to Washington for analysis.
The Germany-bound aircraft, powered by Rolls Royce RB.211 turbofans, was leased to Dominican airline Alas Nacionales. All 189 aboard, including 13 crew, were killed. The estimated $1.4 million salvage cost will be shared by Germany, Turkey, Boeing and R-R.
Source: Flight International
