Air India Plane Crash: Black Box Recovered 27 Hours After Boeing 787 Dreamliner Crash in Ahmedabad

Twenty-seven hours after the London-bound Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, the aircraft's black box has been recovered from the rooftop of a medical hostel in Meghaninagar. This crucial recovery is expected to play a key role in determining the exact cause of the tragic crash.

The devastating accident killed 241 of the 242 people on board, including former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. Only one person, a UK national of Indian origin, miraculously survived. The aircraft's tail section struck the BJ Medical College hostel mess, killing five medical students and pushing the total death toll to at least 265.

What Is a Black Box in an Aircraft?

A black box contains two essential devices:

Flight Data Recorder (FDR): Records altitude, airspeed, direction, and over 88 critical flight parameters.

Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR): Captures conversations between pilots, radio communications, engine sounds, alarms, and background noise.

These tools allow aviation authorities to recreate the final moments of a flight and understand technical failures or human errors.

How Black Boxes Survive Crashes

Black boxes are built to withstand:

High-impact forces

Fires and explosions

Deep-sea pressure up to 14,000 feet

They are usually located in the tail section of the aircraft-an area more likely to survive a crash. If retrieved from water, the box is desalted, dried, and analyzed to extract flight and audio data.

Made from titanium or stainless steel, these devices are among the most durable components on an aircraft.

India's DFDR & CVR Lab to Analyze Black Box

Earlier this year, a state-of-the-art Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) Laboratory was inaugurated in Delhi. Operated by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), the facility is capable of:

Repairing damaged flight recorders

Extracting black box data

Conducting technical crash investigations

Mayday Call & Crash Details

The Air Traffic Control (ATC) in Ahmedabad confirmed that the pilot of Flight AI171 issued a 'Mayday' call shortly after takeoff, indicating a severe emergency. Moments later, the aircraft lost altitude and crashed into the medical hostel, exploding into flames.

Eyewitnesses reported the aircraft was flying abnormally low before the crash.

Vijay Rupani Among Victims

Former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani, who was seated in 2D, was flying to London to visit family. His untimely death has shocked the political fraternity. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the crash site, and Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu confirmed that a high-level investigation committee has been set up.

Helpline Numbers for Families:

011-24610843

9650391859

1800 5691 444 (Air India)