"Debate Over Cockpit Voice Recorder Capacity Reignited After Loss of Alaska Airlines Data"
The black box cockpit voice recorder from the imperiled Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, which experienced a midflight blowout, was completely erased, leaving investigators without crucial audio evidence. The NTSB is frustrated by the loss and is calling for an increase in the black box recording threshold from two hours to 25 hours, as well as retrofitting existing aircraft with this capability. The incident has led to the grounding of Boeing 737 MAX 9 jetliners used by Alaska Airlines and United Airlines, with hundreds of flight cancellations, and ongoing inspections by the FAA.