Investigators recover black boxes from deadly Air India crash

In India, investigators have commenced a detailed inquiry following the tragic crash of Air India flight 171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which occurred shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad Airport. The aircraft, bound for London, crashed into a building housing students from a medical college, resulting in the loss of 241 lives on board and 29 on the ground, making it one of the most catastrophic aviation incidents in the country’s history. Only one passenger survived the disaster, highlighting the severity of the impact. Following the incident, both the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder were successfully recovered from the wreckage by investigators, who are being assisted by teams from the United States and the United Kingdom. This recovery is crucial, as the black boxes contain vital information regarding the aircraft's operational data and conversations in the cockpit that could elucidate the circumstances leading up to the crash. These records will aid in understanding the aircraft’s last moments and any potential technical or procedural failures that may have occurred. The Government of India has initiated a high-level committee to investigate the causes of the crash and to suggest improvements to prevent future incidents. According to officials, including representatives from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, the investigation will cover various angles: the aircraft’s performance, any previous issues it encountered, and the training records of the pilots involved. The committee is expected to file a preliminary report within three months. As the investigation unfolds, families of the victims are confronted with the heartbreaking task of awaiting the identification and return of their loved ones, which is compounded by the challenging conditions at the crash site. Indian authorities have reported that DNA matching is underway, and while some remains have been returned, the process is expected to take considerable time. Additionally, further safety inspections have been mandated for Air India’s Boeing 787 fleet to ensure such an incident does not occur again.