SEOUL: Data from the cockpit voice recorder of the crashed Jeju Air aircraft has been successfully extracted and is now being converted into voice files, the transport ministry announced Wednesday. The announcement marks a significant step forward in the ongoing investigation into the tragic crash of the Jeju Air B737-800 at Muan International Airport.

According to Yonhap News Agency, both data recorders-the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder-were retrieved from the crash site. While the flight recorder sustained some external damage, the voice recorder was in relatively better condition. The ministry has indicated that extracting data from the flight data recorder may take additional time due to the damage.

As part of the investigation efforts, two more investigators from Boeing Co. have joined the probe at the crash site. This brings the total number of U.S. team members to ten, including six representatives from Boeing and three from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board. The expansion of the U.S. team aims to ensure a comprehensive examination of the accident.

The U.S. team arrived in South Korea on Monday and promptly traveled to Muan to begin a joint investigation with the Korean team, led by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Initial investigations have focused on a navigation system known as a localizer, which assists in aircraft landings. The localizer, installed on a concrete structure at Muan International Airport, has been implicated in worsening the crash's impact and the resulting casualties.

The Jeju Air B737-800 aircraft tragically belly-landed and exploded at the airport on Sunday, leading to the loss of 179 lives out of the 181 passengers on board. The investigation continues as authorities work to uncover the causes behind this devastating accident.