Investigators have retrieved the black box of the Air India Dreamliner that crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad, killing 241 people. The Flight Data Recorder (FDR), part of the so-called black box, was located on the rooftop of a resident doctors’ hostel that the aircraft had struck during its descent.
The aircraft, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, was operating as Flight AL-171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick. The crash occurred just moments after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, making it one of the most severe aviation tragedies in India’s recent history. Only one person, a British national of Indian origin named Vishwashkumar Ramesh, survived. He had been seated by the emergency exit in row 11 of the economy section.
According to sources close to the investigation, the aircraft failed to gain sufficient altitude and deviated from its expected path shortly after liftoff. Airport CCTV footage showed a normal takeoff before the plane suddenly began losing height. It ultimately collided with the top of a hostel building belonging to a medical college, igniting a blaze and reducing the aircraft to debris.
The recovery of the black box was confirmed within 28 hours of the crash by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which is leading the probe. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu stated, “The Flight Data Recorder (Black Box) has been 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.”
What is Black Box?
The device, painted bright orange for high visibility in debris, is built to withstand extreme heat, pressure, and impact. Despite the name, a black box includes two main parts: the Flight Data Recorder (FDR), which logs data such as altitude, airspeed, and engine metrics, and the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), which captures the pilots’ communication and sounds within the cockpit.
Alongside the black box, authorities are also examining digital video recorders (DVRs) and surveillance footage for further evidence. These could provide vital visual information, especially regarding conditions in the cabin and cockpit in the moments leading up to the crash.
The crash has drawn international attention. Investigators from India, the United States, and the United Kingdom have arrived at the site to assist with the probe. Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran said, “Trained investigators will help us understand why the routine flight turned into calamity.”
The aircraft had 242 people on board, including 169 Indian citizens, 53 British nationals, seven from Portugal, and one Canadian. Among the casualties was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.
Pilots Had Well Experience in Flight Hours
The pilots of the ill-fated flight were Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a Line Training Captain with more than 8,200 flight hours, and First Officer Clive Kundar, who had recorded over 1,100 hours in the air.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the site of the accident and later met with victims’ families and hospitalised survivors at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital. A forensic team is also involved in identifying the victims and assisting with evidence collection.
To support the bereaved families, the Tata Group has announced a compensation package of Rs 1 crore for each victim’s next of kin.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has initiated a full-scale investigation, with over 40 Gujarat government personnel deployed to support central teams on the ground. The government has also announced the formation of a high-level committee to review the circumstances surrounding the crash and enhance safety protocols across the aviation sector.
While the exact cause of the crash remains undetermined, the analysis of the black box is expected to provide the most crucial insights. The data could help reconstruct the final moments of Flight AL-171 and prevent similar tragedies in the future.
