NTSB Temporarily Removes Public Access to Docket System After AI Reconstructs Cockpit Audio from Spectrograms

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) temporarily removed public access to its docket system after AI tools were used to reconstruct cockpit audio from spectrogram images published online.

The Incident

The NTSB published spectrograms—visual representations of audio frequencies—from the cockpit voice recorder of UPS Flight 2976, which crashed in Louisville, Ky., in 2023, killing 15 people.

YouTuber Scott Manley and others used AI to convert these spectrograms back into audio, effectively reconstructing the cockpit recording.

The NTSB is prohibited by law from releasing cockpit voice recordings. The agency said it took down the dockets to review materials and add safeguards.

Most dockets, including that of UPS Flight 2976, have been restored, but 41 remain under review.

Background

The prohibition on releasing cockpit audio stems from a 1988 Delta Air Lines crash, where cockpit banter was made public, leading Congress to pass a law against releasing such recordings.

The NTSB stated that the reconstructed audio does not violate the law because it was not the original recording, but officials called the posts "disgusting" and "manipulated."

Official Statements

NTSB spokesperson Peter Knudson said the agency has "longstanding procedures" to protect cockpit recordings and temporarily removed public access while evaluating additional safeguards.

NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy wrote on X that laws against releasing CVR audio exist to protect privacy, preserve investigation integrity, and respect accident victims and families.

Manley acknowledged his own mistake in publicly speculating about the reconstruction possibility, saying he could have notified the NTSB instead.

Outcome

• The source of the mysterious high-pitch ringing sound in the cockpit recording has not been identified.
• The NTSB held a two-day hearing on the UPS crash last week.