The first of two flight data recorders of an ill-fated Russian military Tu-154 aircraft was retrieved from the wreckage, two days after the plane crashed into the Black Sea, local media reported Tuesday.
"The first Tu-154 black box was found and raised to the surface at 8:48 a.m. (0548 GMT)," Russian news agency TASS reported, citing an law enforcement source.
The Russian Defense Ministry's Tu-154, en route to Russia's Hmeimim air base in the Syrian port city of Latakia, crashed shortly after takeoff from Sochi early Sunday morning.
There were 92 people aboard the plane, including 84 passengers and eight crew members. Most of the passengers were members of the Alexandrov Ensemble, a renowned choir of the Russian Armed Forces. They were heading to the air base for New Year celebrations.
