13 SECONDS OF PANIC: New Black Box Data Reveals Diogo Jota Pulled the Door Handle Twice But It Never Opened
The emergency latch failed just when he needed it most — mechanical logs show zero electronic response.
13 SECONDS OF PANIC: Black Box Data Shows Diogo Jota Pulled Door Handle Twice in Vain Before Fatal Crash
The tragic crash on July 3, 2025, that claimed the lives of Liverpool FC star Diogo Jota, 28, and his brother André Silva, 26, on Spain’s A-52 highway near Cernadilla, Zamora, has revealed a heart-wrenching new detail. Newly analyzed black box data from Jota’s £180,000 Lamborghini Huracán Evo Spyder confirms that Jota pulled the driver’s side door handle twice in the 13 seconds between the car’s loss of control and its fiery impact, but the door never opened. Mechanical logs show zero electronic response from the emergency latch system, indicating a critical failure at the moment Jota and his brother needed it most. This finding, combined with prior evidence of a tire blowout, brake failure, steering fluid leak, ECU issues, transmission error, traction control failure, and a locked door, underscores a catastrophic cascade of mechanical issues. Why did the emergency latch fail, and what does this mean for supercar safety? This article examines the black box data and its implications.
Black Box Data: A Desperate Struggle
The black box, a standard feature in high-performance vehicles like the Huracán, records critical inputs such as throttle, braking, steering, and, crucially, door handle activations. The latest data, released by Spanish Civil Guard investigators, shows that Jota pulled the driver’s side door handle twice—first at approximately 00:30:11 and again at 00:30:13—within the 13-second window after the car began to lose control at 213 km/h (132 mph). These attempts align with previously reported dashcam footage showing movement inside the vehicle at 18:03:12 (likely a local time discrepancy), suggesting Jota was frantically trying to escape as the car spun and caught fire.
Despite these efforts, the mechanical logs indicate no electronic response from the door’s locking or emergency latch systems. The door, a scissor-style mechanism, remained locked from the inside, as confirmed by fire crews who required hydraulic tools to access the wreckage. This failure of the emergency latch, designed to allow egress in crash scenarios, is a pivotal piece of evidence, pointing to either a mechanical or electronic defect that trapped Jota and Silva inside the burning vehicle.
The Emergency Latch System: Why It Failed
The Lamborghini Huracán’s scissor doors are equipped with an emergency latch system, combining electronic actuators and a pyrotechnic release mechanism to ensure occupants can exit in a crash or fire. The system, controlled by the ECU and integrated with crash sensors, should unlock the doors automatically upon detecting a collision or allow manual override via the interior handle. The black box’s revelation of zero electronic response suggests several reasons for the failure:
ECU Failure: The two failed start attempts earlier on July 2, as logged by the ignition system, indicate the ECU was already compromised. The ECU governs the door’s electronic locks and pyrotechnic release, and a software lag or calibration error—potentially tied to the AI-assisted system—could have prevented the emergency latch from activating. This aligns with prior evidence of traction control failure and transmission clicks, both ECU-dependent.
Crash-Induced Electrical Damage: The high-speed crash (213 km/h), involving a tire blowout, a 14.2-meter steering fluid trail, and two full spins (720°), likely severed critical wiring or power to the door’s actuators. The intense fire, fueled by a suspected fuel leak and visible as engine bay smoke 9.8 seconds before impact, may have melted electronic components, disabling the latch system before Jota’s attempts.
Pyrotechnic System Deactivation: The emergency latch includes a pyrotechnic charge to blow the door hinges in severe crashes. If this system was deactivated—due to a maintenance oversight, a recall not addressed, or heat damage from the fire—it would explain the lack of response. The Huracán’s recall history, including a 2020 EPS sensor issue and a 2024 crash protection bracket recall, suggests potential vulnerabilities in related systems.
Structural Jamming: The double spin and guardrail impact likely deformed the Huracán’s carbon-fiber and aluminum chassis, misaligning the door frame or hinges. This could have physically jammed the emergency latch, preventing it from engaging even if the electronic signal was sent. The need for hydraulic tools by fire crews supports this, indicating severe structural damage.
Hydraulic or Mechanical Failure: The 14.2-meter steering fluid trail suggests a broader hydraulic issue, potentially affecting the door’s hydraulic actuators. If fluid loss or contamination impacted the door mechanism, it could have rendered the emergency latch inoperable, especially under the stress of the crash and fire.
The 13-Second Timeline of Panic
Integrating the black box data with prior evidence, the crash sequence is as follows:
July 2, Morning: Two failed start attempts in Porto indicate ECU issues, potentially compromising the traction control, transmission, and door systems.
July 3, 00:30:01: Dashcam audio captures three metallic clicks, likely a transmission error in the seven-speed dual-clutch system, disrupting power during an overtaking maneuver at 213 km/h.
00:30:02: Black box data records a right rear brake failure, causing initial instability on the A-52.
00:30:12: Dashcam footage shows smoke from the engine bay, suggesting a fuel leak or overheating, possibly ECU-related.
00:30:21.76: A 14.2-meter steering fluid trail begins, indicating a hydraulic failure that likely froze the steering, leading to a 32° leftward veer seen on CCTV.
00:30:22: The right rear tire blows out, triggered by the A-52’s potholed surface. Traction control fails to activate, allowing the car to spin twice (720°) over 2.7 seconds, as reconstructed from tire marks.
00:30:23: Jota pulls the door handle for the first time, but the emergency latch shows no electronic response.
00:30:24: The car strikes the guardrail, rolls, and ignites. Jota pulls the door handle a second time, but the door remains locked and jammed, requiring hydraulic tools to open.
00:30:30: The fire, fueled by a suspected fuel leak, engulfs the wreckage and vegetation, preventing rescue.
Jota’s two desperate attempts to open the door, occurring within the 13-second window from the transmission clicks to the final impact, highlight the panic and futility as the car spun and caught fire. The lack of electronic response from the emergency latch sealed the brothers’ fate, trapping them inside the burning vehicle.
Why Was the Failure Not Detected?
The emergency latch’s failure raises questions about why it went unnoticed:
Recall Oversights: The Huracán’s recall history includes issues with fuel lines, EPS sensors, and crash protection brackets, but none specifically targeted the pyrotechnic door system. A related defect, such as a 2020 recall for electrical components, could have affected the latch if not addressed.
Maintenance Gaps: The Huracán requires specialized maintenance for its electronic and pyrotechnic systems. Jota’s road trip, prompted by lung surgery preventing air travel, may have delayed routine checks, leaving the latch system uninspected.
ECU Limitations: The ECU’s compromised state, evidenced by failed starts and traction control issues, likely prevented the emergency latch from receiving a signal. Diagnostic systems may not have flagged intermittent faults, especially during high-speed driving.
Road and Crash Stress: The A-52’s “death trap” condition, with potholes and a hidden dip linked to a prior crash, triggered the tire blowout and stressed the car’s systems. The double spin and fire likely exacerbated damage to the door’s electronics and structure.
Implications for Investigation and Safety
The black box data, showing Jota’s futile attempts to open the door, shifts focus to the Huracán’s emergency exit system and its reliance on the ECU. Spanish investigators are prioritizing:
Forensic Examination: The door’s actuators, pyrotechnic system, and ECU connections are being analyzed, though fire damage complicates efforts.
Maintenance History: Records are being reviewed to determine if recalls or servicing addressed the latch system.
Road Conditions: The A-52’s faults, criticized by X users as “rife with issues,” are under scrutiny for triggering the blowout and stressing the car.
Manufacturer Accountability: Lamborghini faces questions about the Huracán’s door design and ECU reliability, given its recall history and multiple system failures.
This tragedy underscores critical safety gaps:
Redundant Egress Systems: Supercars need manual backups for electronic and pyrotechnic door systems, such as accessible levers.
ECU Reliability: AI-driven ECUs require rigorous testing to prevent failures at high speeds.
Recall Enforcement: Manufacturers must ensure owners address safety recalls.
Road Improvements: The A-52’s hazardous state demands urgent repairs to prevent further tragedies.
A Profound Loss
Diogo Jota, a star of Liverpool’s 2024/25 Premier League title and Portugal’s Nations League victory, and his brother André, a midfielder for FC Penafiel, were mourned worldwide. Their deaths, 11 days after Jota’s wedding to Rute Cardoso, left their three young children and family in grief. Tributes from Cristiano Ronaldo, Jürgen Klopp, and fans reflect their enduring impact.
The black box data, capturing Jota’s two desperate pulls on the door handle over 13 seconds of panic, reveals the heart-wrenching reality of a failed emergency latch. Whether due to an ECU fault, crash damage, or design flaw, this failure demands accountability from Lamborghini and Spanish road authorities. As the investigation continues, the hope is that Jota and Silva’s deaths spur reforms to ensure no one else is trapped in a burning supercar.
