Crash Tape Transcripts Reveal a 3-Hour Tour
November 22, 1999
The context for this and other Daily Probe articles is provided here.
WASHINGTON, DC (DPI) - NTSB chairman James Hall has backtracked
from an earlier statement he had made that the transcript of the
cockpit voice recorder from doomed EgyptAir Flight 990 contained
the voice of the co-pilot making what appeared to be a suicidal
comment. The tape and the so-called "black box" recording device
were recovered last week by the independent marine salvage firm of
S & Li'l B, Inc. Much of the tape contained static. But that did
not stop Hall and his crew from taking another stab at the
recording's contents. Here is the part that the NTSB claims they
were able to transcribe:
(Static)
VOICE 1: -t do you think this switch does, Skipper?
VOICE 2: Don't touch that, Li'l Buddy!
(Sound of hat-whacking)
VOICE 1: Ow! Don't hit me Skipper. I just thought if it was still
working we could listen to some of it.
VOICE 2 (weary resignation): Gilligan, it's not like your boom
box. It only records stuff.
VOICE 1: Really?
VOICE 2: Really. Now get back to swabbing the deck. There will be
TV cameras when we get back to shore.
VOICE 1: Golly! We're gonna be on TV? Aye-aye sir! Swabbing the
deck right away sir!
(Rapidly receding sound of deck shoes pounding away)
VOICE 2: How did I get stuck with that moron? (static) Man alive,
I'm hungry. What the... Whoa! WHHOOOOAAAAA!!!!!
(Static)
- Reported by Chris Jones
-30-