Where Are the Remaining 9/11 Black Boxes?

In the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the recovery and analysis of the black boxes from the hijacked planes became a priority. However, some of these crucial devices have not been recovered. This article delves into the fate of the black boxes from the hijacked planes and discusses the challenges in locating them.

AA11 and UA175

The black boxes from American Airlines Flight 11 (AA11) and United Airlines Flight 175 (UA175) were likely lodged in the World Trade Center towers and thus were destroyed in the infernos that followed. The intense flames and temperatures resulted in burning out these essential devices. It is believed that they may have survived the initial impact but were later destroyed or remain in secluded areas within the debris, such as at Fresh Kills landfill, where some plane debris was found as late as 2013. Additionally, the search for these black boxes in Manhattan continued at Fresh Kills with the remains of the smaller World Trade Center buildings.

AA77

Longer in the air, American Airlines Flight 77 (AA77) also faced challenges. The black boxes from both AA77 and United Airlines Flight 93 (UA93) were found, but unfortunately, the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) from AA77 was compromised due to prolonged heating. Both the flight data recorder (FDR) and the CVR from UA93 were recovered, and the transcripts of UA93 are available online.

UA93

United Airlines Flight 93 had both its flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder recovered. The voice recorder for UA93 provided crucial information, unlike the flight data recorder from AA77 and UA175, which were found but mostly destroyed due to the violent impact and subsequent fire. The passport-sized devices could be recovered as they are built to withstand short-term exposure to fire, whereas the black boxes were not designed for such extreme conditions.

Challenges in Recovery

The incredible force and heat generated by the impacts of the planes into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon contributed to the destruction of the black boxes. The massive amount of burning jet fuel, estimated at around 11,000 gallons per plane, created temperatures of approximately 1100°C, causing the black boxes to fail and not survive the incident. Additionally, the difference in impact scenarios between the planes hitting buildings and those hitting the ground at the Pentagon also influenced the recovery outcomes.

Theories and Speculations

Despite the lack of definitive evidence, some theories suggest that the black boxes from AA11 and UA175 might have survived the initial crashes and later came to rest in secluded areas within the debris. The shredded state of these planes left no intact components to be recovered, which explains why no black boxes from AA11 and UA175 were found.

Conclusion

The recovery of the black boxes post-9/11 was fraught with challenges, primarily due to the extreme conditions and the extensive damage sustained by the planes. The focus on identifying the final routes, motivations, and impacts of the terrorists led to the prioritization of other recovery efforts. However, the mystery surrounding the whereabouts of the black boxes persists, reminding us of the complexities of the tragic events of September 11, 2001.