The flight recorder from the Russian Su-24 bomber which was downed by Turkey has been opened in front of journalists.
Afterwards, the case from the flight recorder was taken to a special laboratory. The first data is due to be unveiled on Monday, December 21.
The deputy head of the Russian Aerospace Forces says that the experts may need special equipment to decipher the memory unit of the flight data recorder.
“Taking into account that the casing of the memory unit has sustained damage, there is a need for special equipment for use in the deciphering of the information. The state the casing is in now allows [us] to suggest that the process will go as it should,” he said.
The experts explained that although the devices are called black boxes, their actual color is orange, for better visibility. However, they can turn black during a fire.
The laboratory where this operation is being performed is a special room designed for such operations; this is where all the decoding operations are usually performed.
The experts have removed the lid of the second casing. There is black powder, which protects it from thermal effects.
Then they got to the lid of the third protective casing, the protective memory module, which holds the memory stick where the flight information is recorded.
The experts verify the registration numbers on each lid.
The experts have removed the lid from the third protective case.
The experts go to the memory module, which consists of 16 chips. It can register up to 20 hours of flight data. The data from the aircraft's final recording indicates that the plane's last flight lasted approximately 40 minutes.
The experts have removed wires attached to the device to get to the memory unit. There are several damages to the memory unit and it was decided to put it through an x-ray test to find any cracks or minor damages to all 16 chips. The test will be carried out in the lab.
Out of first eight chips, three have been damaged or even torn apart. These chips aren't likely to have any information stored on them.
The recorder is usually placed in the tail of an aircraft. The sustained damages suggest it was hit by a missile.
The data memory units were put into a safe, which was then sealed for protection. Further procedures are being agreed upon.
The intermediate results are: the experts have removed the memory unit, which unfortunately had sustained several mechanical damages. Russian experts and international observers have yet to decide on further procedures.
The Russian Su-24 bomber jet was brought down over Syria on November 24 by an air-to-air missile fired from a Turkish F-16 fighter in response to an alleged violation of Turkish airspace. However, both Russian and Syrian defense officials have confirmed that the Su-24 never crossed into Turkey.
In response to the incident, Moscow introduced a set of measures against Ankara. The measures, which ban or restrict the activities of Turkish organizations in Russia and prohibit Russian employers from hiring Turkish citizens, are due to take effect from January 1, 2016.
Russia invited specialists from 14 countries to attend the deciphering of the Su-24 bomber flight recorders, but only China and Great Britain have agreed, according to the Russian Aerospace Forces.
