The search team for the ill-fated China Airlines passenger jet that crashed into the sea near Penghu on May 25 had still not retrieved the two "black boxes" as of yesterday, with only eight days left before the devices stop emitting signals.
The "black boxes" -- the digital flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder -- normally emit signals for up to 30 days after a crash.
According to the Cabinet's Aviation Safety Council (ASC), a US-based Global Industries' vessel assisted the search team yesterday evening in getting a more accurate reading of the location of the ``black boxes."
"The result [by Global Industries] is the most accurate one we've had since the salvage effort started," ASC spokeswoman Tracy Jen (
Jen said the search team is still optimistic about recovering the two "black boxes."
With hopes high that the recorders contain the information needed to explain the cause of the crash, the retrieval of the two "black boxes" has been one of the main targets of the recovery effort.
Despite the fact that the recorders have been traced and monitored by the navy and the investigation team, the mission to retrieve the recorders has been hampered by underwater currents and the need to search a relatively large area.
The Global Industries' search vessel began underwater work Saturday night in an effort to retrieve the rear portion of the aircraft, where it is believed there are no bodies.
According to Jen, since the vessel failed to bring up the rear portion of the plane in its first attempt, the vessel moved on to try to retrieve a 40m-long piece of wreckage.
This piece of wreckage has been identified as a part of the front of the aircraft, extending to the right wing.
Jen said that this part of the plane may contain passengers' bodies and is a top priority for recovery efforts.
Yesterday was the 22nd day since the China Airlines Boeing 747-200 broke up in mid-air and crashed in to the Taiwan Strait on May 25, killing 225 passengers and crew.
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