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Evidence WTC black boxes were found
Summary
Two NY firefighters, Nicholas DeMasi and Mike Bellone self-published a book in which they contradicted the official announcement that no flight or cockpit recorder 'black boxes' were found at the WTC. The official Commission report says the flight recorders were not found.
DeMasi and Bellone claim to have found three of the four reddish-orange white-striped boxes while riding an All Terrain Vehicle at ground zero with three federal agents. Bellone said federal agents were adamant about not talking about the find. Both firemen said several other firefighters witnessed the recovery of the data recorders but were ordered into silence by federal agents.
In addition, a source inside NTSB acknowledges that they had them and worked on them, deferring to the FBI on the matter of where they are now: "Off the record, we had the boxes. You’d have to get the official word from the FBI as to where they are, but we worked on them here."
DeMasi and Bellone claim to have found three of the four reddish-orange white-striped boxes while riding an All Terrain Vehicle at ground zero with three federal agents. Bellone said federal agents were adamant about not talking about the find. Both firemen said several other firefighters witnessed the recovery of the data recorders but were ordered into silence by federal agents.
In addition, a source inside NTSB acknowledges that they had them and worked on them, deferring to the FBI on the matter of where they are now: "Off the record, we had the boxes. You’d have to get the official word from the FBI as to where they are, but we worked on them here."
Source: Marrs, p. 26, Counterpunch 12/19/2005
Analysis
I find it highly plausible that the flight recorders survived and that they were found. Black boxes always survive and are almost always found. They're built for just this sort of thing. And the witnesses seem credible as well. So I have to say this whole business of denying they were found is suspicious to a fairly extreme degree.
Bottom line, me, I give it:
Discussion
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People's Court
Quotes
"[Federal agents] confronted me and told me not to say anything. I said, Give me one good reason. When they couldn't, I told them I wouldn't shut up about it...I can tell you this, though, it was all very strange. I worked on the spaceship Columbia cleanup, and you know when something important is found and when something is not."-- Firefighter Mike Bellone
"Off the record, we had the boxes. You’d have to get the official word from the FBI as to where they are, but we worked on them here."
-- anonymous National Transportation Safety Board source
Currently showing comments 1 through 2 of 2 total comments.
1. tnt 4 Jan 2008 03:51:36 PM
I believe the guys who wrote the book. And I finally pointed at a star and saw the definition. So, prior question answered.
2. john 4 Jan 2008 07:45:47 PM
I believe 'em too. Good to see you checking in here, tnt!