The flight recorder of the F-16V jet that disappeared and crashed in waters off southern Taiwan on January 11 was found Monday night. It has been sent to aviation experts to investigate the cause of the crash.
The Air Force sent the release announcing they had found the black box of the serial number 6650 jet piloted by Captain Chen Yi on Monday evening.
The Air Force has formed an investigation committee which will work with the Taiwan Transport Safety Board and aviation experts to determine the cause of the incident.
Chen's jet disappeared from radar screens at 3:23 p.m. on Jan. 11. That was only half an hour after it took off from Chiayi Air Base on a routine training mission. The aircraft had just completed simulated missile launches, when it nosedived into the ocean, according to eyewitnesses in Chiayi.
Chen has been pronounced dead after parts of his body were found by searchers last week. On Monday, Tsai Ying-chun, the prosecutor investigating his case, ruled that his death was caused by a multiple blunt force trauma caused by a high-speed impact. His finding was based on an autopsy conducted on bones and skin tissue belonging to Chen found by searchers at the crash site.