Indonesia to solely probe black box

JAKARTA - The Indonesian government has turned down a request to send back the Flight Data Recorder, also known as black box, of the crashed plane Sukhoi Superjet 100 to Russia, stating that Indonesian investigators will determine the cause of the plane's deadly crash on May 9, local media reported Tuesday.

"We have an interest in making the investigation transparent and credible," Indonesian Vice President Boediono was quoted by spokesman Yopie Hidayat as saying Monday. "The investigation will be under the control of Indonesian institutions. Russia will only provide support," he pointed out.

National Committee for Transportation Safety (KNKT) Chief Masyhuri said that international regulations demand the accident investigation is done in Indonesia. Russian officials have requested that the black box, once found, be sent to Russia so that local investigators could analyze the recorder's data.

"The regulation states that the investigation should be done in the country where the accident happened," Masyhuri said at the Halim Perdanakusuma Airport. "After the black box is found, it will be brought to the KNKT laboratory."

Accident investigators will use Russian software to transfer the data from the black box. If the flight recorder is too damaged to access, investigators will bring the recorder to the black box' s makers.

"If I am not mistaken, the factory is in America," Masyhuri said. "We expect to finish the investigation in a month, if it is not damaged."

More than 70 Russian experts flew into Jakarta to help with clean up and investigation efforts.

The Russian-made Sukhoi Superjet 100 crashed into a slope of Mount Salak in West Java during an exhibition flight. At least 45 people on board - mostly Indonesian airline representatives and reporters - lost their lives in the crash.