The black box of the Air India aircraft that crashed in Ahmedabad, Gujarat on Thursday has been recovered, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) confirmed on Friday. The Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR), commonly referred to as the black box, was discovered on the rooftop of the hostel building into which the plane had crashed.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation clarified that despite earlier speculation, a video recorder previously found at the site was not the DFDR.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu provided an update on social media platform X, saying:
“The Flight Data Recorder (black box) was recovered within 28 hours from the accident site in Ahmedabad by AAIB. This marks an important step forward in the investigation. This will significantly aid the enquiry into the incident.”
A full-scale investigation is now underway, with over 40 personnel from the Gujarat State Government collaborating with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the AAIB on-site.
What is a Black Box?
A black box is a highly durable device that records critical data from an aircraft during its flight. Despite its name, the box is typically bright orange or yellow to aid visibility at crash sites. It is built to withstand extreme impacts, high temperatures, and intense water pressure.
The DFDR contains vital flight data and cockpit voice recordings, which help investigators determine the actual cause behind an aircraft crash. Retrieving this equipment is one of the top priorities following any aviation disaster.
Tragic Crash Details:
The black box is now under examination to shed light on the fatal crash of Flight AL-171, a Boeing 787-8 bound for London’s Gatwick Airport, which crashed just minutes after takeoff from Ahmedabad International Airport, claiming the lives of 241 of the 242 people on board. One of the victims was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.
The aircraft had departed from Runway 23 at 1:39 PM and issued a ‘Mayday’ call to Air Traffic Control (ATC) shortly after. Communication was lost moments later, and the plane crashed just outside the airport perimeter, engulfing the area in thick plumes of black smoke.
According to Air India, the flight was carrying:
- 169 Indian nationals
- 53 British nationals
- 7 Portuguese nationals
- 1 Canadian national
Only one person survived: a British national of Indian origin, Vishwashkumar Ramesh, who was seated on 11A, a window seat on the left side near an emergency exit in the economy section.
The plane was being piloted by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a Line Training Captain with 8,200 flying hours, and First Officer Clive Kundar, who had 1,100 hours of flight experience.
The AAIB, with support from the Ministry of Civil Aviation and local authorities, is conducting an in-depth probe into the cause of the crash.