Black box recovered from Nepal plane crash site

9/02/2010 12:30:08 AM

KATMANDU, Nepal – Nepalese investigators have found the flight data recorders from the wreckage of a small plane that crashed last week en route to the Mount Everest area, killing 14 people including six foreigners, officials said Thursday.

Suresh Acharya, a spokesman for the government-appointed investigation team, said searchers have found both the devices and have flown them back to Katmandu. The devices will be sent abroad for analysis, Acharya said.

The private Agni Air flight had crashed on Aug. 24 crash near Shikharpur village, about 50 miles south of Katmandu, the capital. It was heading to the Mount Everest region when it crashed in heavy rain, killing all 14 people aboard, including four Americans, a Briton and a Japanese.

Acharyasaid the flight data recorder was damaged in the crash but the memory plate inside it appeared to be fine. The voice recorder was in good condition.

The devices were found inside the crater the crash created. The crater has since filled with 10 feet of water.