Black Box Recovered After Air India Crash Kills 265 in Ahmedabad

AHMEDABAD, INDIA – Investigators have recovered the black box flight recorder from the wreckage of an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner that crashed into a densely populated residential area on Thursday, killing at least 265 people, including passengers, crew, and residents on the ground.

The aircraft, bound for London’s Gatwick Airport, had barely climbed 100 metres after takeoff when the pilot issued a mayday call. Moments later, the plane plummeted into a hostel and canteen complex in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, erupting into flames and scattering debris across the area.

Officials hope that data retrieved from the black box — including the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and flight data recorder (FDR) — will shed light on the final moments of Flight AI171 and help determine what caused the crash.

Black Box to Provide Critical Clues

The black box, which was recovered by investigators early Friday, will be sent to aviation authorities for decoding. This vital piece of equipment could offer insight into engine performance, pilot communications, and other systems leading up to the crash.

“The black box will help us understand exactly what went wrong during the short flight,” said a senior official from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). “We are working closely with international partners to expedite the investigation.”

The United States and United Kingdom have both dispatched air accident investigators to assist their Indian counterparts. Boeing, the aircraft’s manufacturer, has also expressed its support, stating it is “ready to assist Air India and investigators in any way possible.”

The aircraft was carrying 242 people, including 12 crew members and passengers from India, the UK, Portugal, and Canada. At least 24 people on the ground were killed when the aircraft’s nose and front landing gear slammed into a canteen where hospital staff were eating lunch.

Miraculously, one passenger, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, survived. A British citizen, Ramesh described the moment of impact from his hospital bed, where he is being treated for burns and other injuries.

“I felt a jolt, then saw green and white lights flash. Everything happened so fast,” he told national broadcaster DD News. “When I opened my eyes, I couldn’t believe I was still alive.”

Ramesh was visited by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday during the PM’s tour of the devastated neighborhood. The PM also met with grieving families and pledged full support for the investigation.

With dozens of victims burned beyond recognition, DNA testing is being used to formally identify the deceased. Family members have been asked to provide DNA samples at an emergency centre established near the crash site.

Ashfaque Nanabawa, who lost his cousin Akeel, along with Akeel’s wife and three-year-old daughter, recalled his last conversation with them.

“He called us from the plane just before takeoff. He said everything was okay. That was his last call,” he said, holding back tears.

Another woman, inconsolable, begged others to break the news of her son-in-law’s death to her daughter.

“I can’t tell her… please, someone else do it,” she said, wiping away tears.

Volunteer rescuers and residents described scenes of horror at the crash site. Bharat Solanki, who was working at a nearby fuel station, said the bodies were “totally burnt… like coal.”

The plane’s tail was left protruding from the second floor of a hostel housing medical staff. Doctor Krishna, a resident of the building, said the impact felt like a bomb blast.

“Half of the plane crashed into our building. It was chaos — screaming, fire, smoke,” he said.

While the black box will ultimately provide definitive answers, aviation experts have speculated on possible causes. Professor Jason Knight, a senior lecturer in fluid mechanics, suggested a double engine failure may have occurred.

“The Boeing 787 is capable of flying on one engine. A dual failure is rare and could point to a bird strike,” Knight said.

Officials emphasized it’s too early to rule out mechanical, environmental, or human factors.

Air India, owned by Tata Group, announced a financial relief package of ₹10 million (approximately $117,000) for the families of each deceased passenger. Medical costs for the injured will also be covered.

In a statement, Tata Group expressed its condolences and said it was working with authorities to support survivors and bereaved families.

The crash comes at a time of explosive growth in India’s aviation sector. With 1.4 billion people and a rapidly expanding middle class, India has become the world’s fourth-largest air travel market, with projections to move into third place within a decade.

This tragedy, the worst since the 2010 Mangalore crash that killed 158 people, serves as a stark reminder of the challenges in ensuring safety keeps pace with expansion.

As investigators examine the black box, the world waits for answers — and for closure for the hundreds affected by one of India’s worst air disasters in years.Black box.

Source- EWN