NTSB to investigate why Boeing 737 plane skidded off runway into St. Johns River

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — UPDATE, 5 p.m.: NTSB said the plane's flight data recorder is on its way to Washington D.C. and was not damaged.

Investigators expect to get a lot of information from the recorder including speed, altitude, point of impact and more about the plane during the incident.

The NTSB is still working on formal interviews with flight crew and anticipate to conduct those Sunday. Looking at the pilot's experience will also be part of the investigation.

Regarding the pets that are on board the plane still in the river, officials said that human life was first priority after the crash.

NAS Jax said that crews checked the cargo bay for pets, but did not see or hear animals or crates in that initial response.

Officials said they looked a second time and did not see any pet carriers above the water line, and emphasized that human life was first priority in the intial response as well as safety for the rescue crews.

The plane made it's landing on runway 10 at NAS Jax when it went off the runway and into the St. Johns River Friday at 9:40 p.m.

NAS Jax said that the runway underwent renovation in 2016 to improve "cross slope" to help water fall off runway. Officials saud that grooving was not required and not included in that renovation design.

Regarding the passengers that were transported to local hospitals and later released, officials said that a 3-month-old was included in the group of 41 people treated locally.

Officials said that the 3-month-old was admitted as a preacaution and everyone has been released from the hospitals

The Coast Guard has put up booms to contain jet fuel around the plane still in the water. NTSB said that the fuel appears to be contained.

NAS Jax air traffic is currently closed right now during the clean up and investigation.

UPDATE, 3:45 P.M.: NTSB said it will hold a 5 p.m. news conference on the investigation into the MiamiAir plane skidding off the runway.

2:55 P.M. UPDATE: NTSB said it has recovered the flight data recorder (also sometimes referred to as the plane's "black box") from the MiamiAir Boeing 737 that skidded into the St. Johns River on Friday night.

12:48 P.M. UPDATE: NTSB has just arrived to the site where a Boeing 737 plane skidded into the St. Johns River at NAS Jax. A team of 16 people will be investigating.

We will stream the next update on TV, here and the Action News Jax Facebook page.

Authorities with the National Transportation Safety Board will be in Jacksonville, Florida around 12 p.m. Saturday to investigate the cause of the crash.

The Miami Air flight arriving from Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba coming into Naval Air Station Jacksonville slid off the runway into the St. Johns River, according to NAS JAX around 9:40 p.m. Friday.

There were 143 people on board. There were no fatalities.

MORE | MIRACLE ON THE ST. JOHNS: Florida Boeing 737 skids off runway into water

The briefing is scheduled to begin around 2 p.m. A team of 16 investigators will look at three broad areas:

• Human: Pilot, experience
• Machine: Plane, systems, maintenance
• Environmental: Weather, geography, air traffic control

Action News Jax will stream the briefing here on our website and on the Action News Jax Facebook page.

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