Flight recorder retrieved from China Airlines aircraft

Airline Industry Information, June 18, 2002

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2002 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

Salvage teams have reportedly retrieved a flight recorder from the China Airlines aircraft that crashed into the Taiwan Strait on 25 May 2002.

The aircraft's cockpit voice recorder - which records radio transmissions and sounds inside the cockpit - was recovered at about 0950 local time today (18 June). The weak acoustic signals believed to be emitted from the second flight recorder have also been picked up and teams are hoping to retrieve the device later today.

Meanwhile, the Fujian Provincial Red Cross Society has delivered some aircraft wreckage and belongings from the aircraft to its counterpart in Taiwan during a ceremony held in Fuzhou on 17 June. A total of 12 items including four aircraft tyres, two aircraft parts, a suitcase and a bag were delivered.

A total of 118 bodies have so far been recovered from the Boeing 747-200 aircraft, which was carrying 225 people from Taipei, Taiwan to Hong Kong when it crashed after breaking into four pieces.

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