XI'AN - AVIC Xi'an Aircraft Industry (Group) Co., maker of MA60 passenger planes, said Tuesday it has sent eight experts to investigate a recent plane crash in Indonesia.

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The Chinese company said in a statement that the eight experts were flown to Indonesia Monday to help Indonesian authorities and Merpati Nusantara Airlines conduct an investigation.

The aircraft maker said it has been closely watching the developments after learning about Saturday's fatal plane crash.

The MA60 passenger plane, en route from Sorong to Kaimana of West Papua, crashed in heavy rain into the sea about 500 meters short of the airport runway around 1 pm local time on May 7, killing all 25 passengers and crew.

The onboard black box flight data recorder has been found.

The plane was delivered to the Merpati Nusantara Airlines in December last year. It had flown a total of 620 hours and taken off and landed 770 times before the crash.