A black box has been recovered from the wreckage of the Air India plane that crashed shortly after takeoff in Ahmedabad, marking a pivotal development in the investigation, confirmed India's civil aviation minister, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu. The flight data recorder was located within 28 hours by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and is expected to be instrumental in uncovering the cause of the disaster. Tragically, out of 242 passengers aboard the ill-fated London-bound flight, only one person survived, while at least eight individuals on the ground also lost their lives during the crash.
Mr. Kinjarapu noted that the successful recovery of the black box is a crucial step in the inquiry, which is being conducted by the AAIB with assistance from teams from both the US and the UK. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner was carrying a diverse group of passengers, including 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian when it crashed into a residential area less than a minute after departure from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 13:39 local time (08:09 GMT).
As rescue teams sift through the wreckage, which spans more than 200 meters, investigators are piecing together what went wrong. The remains of victims are being identified through DNA analysis, and so far, six bodies have been released to families. Among the injured, British national Vishwashkumar Ramesh, the sole survivor, is recovering in the hospital. He recounted escaping from the plane despite witnessing the tragedy unfold around him.
Family members of the victims express their grief and uncertainty. Imtiaz Ali, whose brother was on board, clings to hope amid agonizing uncertainty about his brother's fate. The severity of the crash's impact has deeply affected the local community, with at least four victims being students from a nearby medical college, as the aircraft crashed into buildings on their campus.
On-site visits from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Air India CEO Campbell Wilson reflect the severity and impact of the tragedy. As investigations proceed, India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation has mandated additional safety checks for the airline's Boeing 787 fleet as a precautionary measure. The undercurrent of grief and urgency remains palpable as families of the victims await closure in this harrowing incident.
