Investigators quickly recovered the flight data recorder from the American Airlines jetliner that crashed in New York today, a senior investigator said.
National Transportation Safety board chair Ms Marion Blakey told reporters the data recorder was recovered from the wreckage and would be flown to Washington later in the day for analysis.
The data recorder is one of two "black boxes" on the Airbus A300 jetliner that crashed shortly after takeoff from John F. Kennedy International Airport. The other is the cockpit voice recorder, which had not yet been recovered.
The data recorder is critical for giving information on aircraft flight controls, engine performance and readouts on other mechanical systems.
"All information we have currently is that this is an accident," Ms Blakey said, adding that her agency had been in contact with the FBI and key White House officials.