The Ministry of National Defense confirmed Wednesday that the flight recorder and a piece of the Brave Eagle Advanced Jet Trainer that crashed last month have been recovered. This marks a crucial step in the investigation into the accident.
However, officials have emphasized the need to recover the jet’s engines to determine the exact cause of the crash. Initial investigations have considered mechanical failure and bird strikes as possible causes.
The crash occurred during a training mission over the ocean east of Dulan in Taitung County. The jet suddenly lost power in both engines, forcing the pilot, Air Force Major-in-training Lin Wei, to eject safely using a parachute. Lin spent two days recovering at a hospital after the incident.
To aid the investigation, the Air Force hired Dragon Geosciences, a specialized salvage firm. The company deployed the ship Polaris 3 to locate the wreckage and flight recorder. On Wednesday, the team successfully retrieved the black box and part of the plane’s fuselage.
Defense Minister Wellington Koo told lawmakers that further analysis of the flight recorder, along with the recovery of the engines, should provide more insight into why the Brave Eagle crashed. Experts have already considered various mechanical failures, including a total of 12 possibilities for engine trouble.
A review of 36 Brave Eagles, prior to the crash, showed no previous issues with the aircraft, allowing flights to resume on March 5. Despite the crash, the Air Force remains committed to the Brave Eagle program, ordering 66 jets from Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation.
The 43rd jet was delivered after the crash, four units fewer than originally planned due to delays in receiving parts from overseas. To address this, the company is working with the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology to manufacture parts locally.
The investigation continues, and the authorities are hopeful that the recovery of the engines will offer more answers.
