Cockpit Voice Recorder Recovered from Air India Crash Site in Ahmedabad; Probe Intensifies
Ahmedabad, June 16 — Investigators on Sunday confirmed the recovery of the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) from the site of the devastating Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, marking a critical step forward in the probe into the tragedy that claimed 270 lives. The CVR, part of the aircraft’s “black box” system, was recovered along with the Flight Data Recorder (FDR), both of which are vital in determining the cause of the crash.
Officials from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) told news agency PTI that the CVR recovery will significantly aid efforts to establish what went wrong in the final moments before the Boeing 787-8 aircraft (Flight AI 171) plunged into a residential-medical zone and exploded shortly after takeoff from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.
The crash claimed the lives of 241 passengers and crew on board and 29 individuals on the ground, including five MBBS students. Only one passenger from the aircraft survived the fiery crash.
The confirmation of the black box recovery was made during a high-level review meeting chaired by Dr. P.K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at Circuit House in Ahmedabad. The meeting included senior officials from the Centre, the Gujarat state government, the Airports Authority of India (AAI), and the AAIB.
Dr. Mishra also visited the Civil Hospital, where he met with injured victims and grieving families. According to an official statement, he directed authorities to provide full support for DNA matching and medical treatment, emphasizing compassion and efficiency in handling the post-crash operations. “I am very pained by the enormity of the tragedy. Everybody is sad. It is our duty to share grief and express our feelings for the victims,” Mishra told reporters during his visit.
Later, he visited the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Gandhinagar to assess the progress of DNA sampling and victim identification, stressing the importance of speed without compromising scientific accuracy.
The aircraft, manufactured by Boeing, has triggered a parallel investigation by the United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), following international protocols for accidents involving American-made planes. The AAIB and NTSB are expected to coordinate in examining both the CVR and FDR data to reconstruct the flight’s final moments and determine if mechanical failure, human error, or other factors contributed to the crash.
Officials have indicated that the black boxes are intact and will soon be sent for decoding and analysis. Data from the FDR will provide technical details of the aircraft’s performance, while the CVR will capture conversations, alarms, and cockpit audio in the crucial minutes before impact.
The Prime Minister’s Office reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the victims’ families and ensuring a transparent and thorough investigation. Dr. Mishra was accompanied by PMO Advisor Tarun Kapoor and Deputy Secretary Mangesh Ghildiyal during the visit.
With both black boxes recovered and multi-agency coordination underway, investigators are hopeful of soon uncovering the exact cause of one of India’s deadliest aviation disasters in recent years.
IT.
