Indonesian officials find black box from Sriwijaya Air crash after expanding search

At least 3,600 people were involved in the search on Tuesday, an increase of 2,600 the previous day

Meanwhile, Boeing officials and US aviation experts will travel to Jakarta this week to assist the investigation into the crash

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A search and rescue operation takes place off the Jakarta coast on January 12, 2021. Photo: Reuters

Published: 3:39pm, 12 Jan 2021Updated: 11:32pm, 12 Jan 2021

Indonesian authorities have retrieved a black box from the Sriwijaya Air plane that crashed into the Java Sea at the weekend, KompasTV and MetroTV reported on Tuesday. The recording device was being transported to Jakarta port, the television reports said.

“We are sure that, because the beacon that was attached to the cockpit voice recorder was also found around the area, so with high confidence, the cockpit voice recorder will soon be found,” military chief Hadi Tjahjanto said at a news conference.

“Hopefully we will be able to unveil the mystery of what caused this accident ... so this becomes a lesson for all of us to avoid this in the future.”

Authorities in Indonesia on Tuesday deployed more search workers and equipment to find the flight recorders after the Sriwijaya Air Boeing 737-500 jet plunged into the sea minutes after taking off from Jakarta airport on Saturday with 62 people on board.

At least 3,600 people were involved in the search on Tuesday, an increase of 2,600 the previous day, while a ship with underwater sonar technology joined dozens of other vessels, said Brigadier General Sarman, operations chief of the National Search and Rescue Agency.

“Our hope is that with our resources, underwater detection will be maximised, with support of friendly weather,” said Sarman, who goes by one name.