The government today released audio tapes of the communications between controllers and the pilots of Flight 800 and others planes in the area. The tapes don't appear to provide new insight into the investigation, air safety experts say. But they capture dramatic details of the disaster. The Paris-bound jumbo jet plunged into the waters off New York's Long Island a year and a half ago in the greatest unsolved crash in U.S. aviation history. All 230 people on board perished.
Investigators believe that the explosion emanated from the jet's center fuel tank.
In December, the FBI ended its investigation, ruling out the possibility that a criminal act led to the crash. At first, the air traffic controller in Boston doesn't seem to understand and asks the pilot to repeat his report. A few seconds later, the pilot of Alitalia Flight 609 confirms the incident in a voice that contains a hint of concern. Despite the horror, the air traffic controller manages to continue his work and gives directions to other airliners. He also makes repeated attempts to contact the TWA pilot.