Data recorder recovered from freighter that sank during Oct. hurricane
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Search crews have recovered the “black box” from the wreckage of the freighter El Faro that sank near the Bahamas during Hurricane Joaquin.
The National Transportation Safety Board said Tuesday it retrieved the El Faro’s voyage data recorder, which investigators hope will shed light on the ship’s final moments.
The 790-foot El Faro sank in 15,000 feet of water Oct. 1 while traveling between Jacksonville and Puerto Rico. All 33 crew members died.
Search crews found the recorder in April, but were unable to remove it.
They returned Monday and piloted a remotely operated vehicle down to the ship’s resting place to remove the recorder.
The NTSB said in a release that it will begin processing the audio and other data when crews return from sea around Aug. 12.
