Ahmedabad, June 13 — Investigators probing Thursday’s deadly Air India crash achieved a breakthrough on Friday with the recovery of the Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) — commonly called the Black box — from the rooftop of a hostel building inside the BJ Medical College campus, where the ill-fated aircraft had slammed after take-off.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (AI171), bound for London, crashed seconds after departing Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, killing 241 of the 242 people on board, along with 24 others on the ground, including five MBBS students. The lone survivor on board, British businessman Vishwas Kumar Ramesh, escaped the flames through sheer presence of mind.
The DFDR, typically located in the aircraft’s tail section, was lodged on the rooftop of the BJ Medical College hostel, a part of the crash site. Its recovery within 28 hours marks a significant milestone in the probe led by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).
“This will significantly aid the enquiry into the incident,” Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu said on X.
The Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) — also known as a Black box — remains missing. It is critical for retrieving pilot conversations, engine sounds, and last-minute alerts.
Aviation experts have speculated possible causes ranging from engine thrust loss, multiple bird strikes, to flap failure, but cautioned against premature conclusions.
“Only a full investigation will determine the actual cause,” said aviation expert Sarosh Damania.
Meanwhile, the DGCA has ordered enhanced safety inspections of Air India’s Boeing 787 fleet, which includes 33 aircraft, to review systems and take-off parameters.
PM Modi Visits Site, Meets Injured
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the crash site and Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, spending nearly 20 minutes meeting victims and reviewing rescue efforts.
At the hospital, he interacted with Ramesh, the only on-board survivor, who described his escape as a result of quick thinking and luck.
Out of 265 bodies received at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, only six have been identified and handed over.
“Most bodies are charred beyond recognition,” said Police Inspector Chirag Gosai, adding that DNA profiling is being conducted for over 200 victims, with results expected within 72 hours.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) of the US has dispatched a team to India to assist in the investigation, as the aircraft was powered by GEnx engines, manufactured by General Electric in the US.
The tragedy, the worst in India in over three decades, has left families devastated and raised serious concerns about air safety, especially given Air India’s expanding international fleet.
As the nation waits for answers, investigators now focus on deciphering the data from the recovered Black box — a key to understanding the final moments of a flight that turned fatal in seconds.
When a crash happens, there are no eyewitnesses from inside the cockpit. The black box becomes the plane’s voice, revealing what happened second-by-second — technically and emotionally (through pilot voices).
It records hundreds of flight parameters: speed, altitude, engine status, flap positions, etc.
It captures cockpit conversation, alarms, and even subtle sounds like a stall warning or an explosion.
This is often the only way investigators can prove what went wrong.
