Second 'black box' found in China Eastern plane crash
CTV
The second 'black box' from a China Eastern Boeing 737-800 was found Sunday, raising hopes that it might shed light on why the passenger plane nosedived into a remote mountainous area in southern China last week, killing all 132 people on board.
Firefighters taking part in the search found the flight data recorder on a mountain slope about 40 metres (130 feet) from the point of impact and 1.5 metres (five feet) underground, state media said. Experts confirmed it was the second black box. The impact of the crash created a 20-metre- (65-foot-) deep pit in the side of the mountain and scattered debris widely.
Searchers had been looking for the data recorder after finding the cockpit voice recorder four days ago. The two black boxes should help investigators determine what caused the plane to plummet from 29,000 feet (8,800 metres) about one hour into the flight and shortly before it would have begun its descent.
The remote setting and rainy and muddy conditions have complicated the search for the black boxes and wreckage. Images posted by CGTN, the international arm of CCTV, showed an official holding an orange cylindrical object on site with the words "FLIGHT RECORDER" and "DO NOT OPEN" written on it. It appeared slightly dented but intact.
The search was paused Sunday afternoon for a three-minute moment of silence for the 123 passengers and nine crew members. Emergency workers took off their helmets and police and soldiers their caps. Standing in groups in formation, they bowed their heads as sirens blared.
