Indonesian investigators have sent the flight data and cockpit voice recorders from the crashed Xian Aircraft MA60 operated by Indonesia's Merpati Nusantara Airlines to China for analysis.

Xian Aircraft will assist in the investigations, says an Indonesian investigator into the incident. "Two Indonesian investigators are accompanying the black boxes to China," he says.

The turboprop aircraft was trying to land at Kaimana Airport on 7 May when it crashed in poor weather. All 25 people on board were killed.

It is not clear yet what caused the crash, says the investigator.

In the meantime, Indonesian authorities are conducting a safety audit of the airline following the incident, says a Merpati official.

"All the personnel responsible for operations safety are being investigated," he adds. The airline, which still operates 12 MA60s, has not grounded the aircraft and flights are operating normally, says the official.

Source: Air Transport Intelligence news