Indian investigators have recovered the flight data recorder, commonly referred to as the “black box,” from the wreckage of the Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner that crashed in Ahmedabad on Wednesday, 12 June.
The crash, which claimed the lives of 241 people including passengers, crew members, and several individuals on the ground, is the deadliest air disaster in India in nearly three decades.
The aircraft had taken off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport en route to London Heathrow but crashed within minutes of departure, striking the rooftop of a student hostel near the outskirts of the city.
The Indian Civil Aviation Minister, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, confirmed the discovery of the black box on Friday.
“The flight data recorder was recovered from the rooftop of a building. This is an important step forward and will significantly aid the inquiry into the incident,” he said.
He added that the data would be analysed in collaboration with international partners, including Boeing, GE Aerospace, and aviation safety investigators from the United Kingdom and the United States.
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India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is expected to begin preliminary analysis of the data within the week, which may reveal critical information about engine performance, aircraft systems, and cockpit communication in the final moments of the flight.
Sole Survivor Speaks Out
Among the 243 passengers and crew onboard, only one person survived: Viswash Kumar Ramesh, a 29-year-old British national of Indian origin. Ramesh spoke to the press from his hospital bed in Ahmedabad, recounting the terrifying moments before the crash.
“I managed to unbuckle myself and used my leg to push through an opening in the fuselage. I crawled out. The lights had flickered, and then the plane just dropped. It was chaos,” he recalled.
“I remember shouting for help, and then everything went dark.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the crash site and hospitals treating the injured. He called the scene “saddening” and offered condolences to the families affected.
“The loss is immeasurable. My thoughts are with the victims and their families,” he said.
In response to the tragedy, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered a full inspection of Air India’s entire Dreamliner fleet, with additional maintenance checks mandated for aircraft of similar configuration.
Aviation safety experts and government officials have urged the public to await the outcome of the investigation before drawing conclusions about the cause of the crash.
“This is a complex investigation. We ask for patience and cooperation as we seek to uncover what led to this tragic event,” said Kinjarapu.
The flight data recorder is expected to play a crucial role in reconstructing the final moments of the ill-fated flight, offering insights that could prevent future tragedies.
